Asian Artists' Fund

Image Credit: Jang Huddle

Artists, practitioners, and collectives who are based in Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Tai Tokerau (or whose project benefits those within this geographical region) and are of Asian descent. 

You can apply with an application form in the Foundation North Funding Hub. Alternatively, you can also;

• Upload your own documents that answer the same questions, or
• Submit audio or video responses to the same questions (up to 30 mins in total). 

Prior to applying, please read the FAQ application guide to make sure the fund fits the purpose of your project.

The Asian Artists’ Fund was established in 2022 as part of an attempt to address funding inequalities in Aotearoa for artists of Asian descent. 

Since its launch, the fund has undergone continual evolution, responding to community feedback and input through the fund’s evaluation and feedback processes as well as through an ongoing co-design process with mid-career and senior Asian arts practitioners in Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Tai Tokerau. 

In 2024, the fund seeks to respond to the recommendations made in Enter The Multiverse – Building a Stronger Sector For Our Asian Arts Practitioners (Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi, Sep 2022), specifically:

1. Mid-career practitioners are supported to become leaders in Aotearoa on an international stage
2. Early-career practitioners have culturally safe opportunities to build capability 
3. Asian diaspora artists have access to the opportunities and resources to develop  a distinctive voice within Aotearoa

Underscoring this fund is an acknowledgement of the place of Asian peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand in relation to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and our nation’s bicultural foundation. Understanding the place of Asian New Zealanders goes hand in hand with understanding their roles and responsibilities as Tiriti partners since Te Tiriti o Waitangi is an agreement between Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti. In this context, we define Tangata Tiriti as inclusive of all those who call Aotearoa home –  Pākehā and Tauiwi.

We support an expansive range of art forms including theatre, music, visual arts, community arts, literature and dance. However, we cannot consider projects that would be the mandate of the New Zealand Film Commission or NZ on Air, including short film, feature film, and web series development and production.

If you are not sure, speak to one of our Outreach Advisors.

In 2024, there are four streams of contestable funding that artists can apply through. For the first time, we are also offering a free Te Tiriti workshop for Asian arts practitioners. 

Please note: everybody can apply for the workshop (‘Engaging more deeply with what it means to be Te Tiriti in Aotearoa’), but only one additional application per person can be made to the other four streams.

• Stream One: Workshops or capability-building initiatives
• Stream Two: Towards deeper coverage and critical dialogue of Aotearoa Asian artists and their work
• Stream Three: An opportunity for experimentation/permission to fail
  
• Stream Four: One-off artistic projects
• Te Tiriti Workshop: Engaging more deeply with what it means to be Te Tiriti in Aotearoa

Please view the application guides for more information about Te Tiriti workshop and each funding stream.

Have more questions? Contact Connie Lee, Simon Vincent or Brynne Clark at asianartistfund@foundationnorth.org.nz or 0800 272 878

If you have an idea but would like some help developing it into a strong application, you can attend one of our information sessions or speak to one of our Outreach Advisors.

Information sessions

• There will be an opportunity for Northland applicants to get in-person advice, date TBC.

Outreach Advisors

This year our Outreach Advisors are Renee Liang, Padma Akula, Danielle Hao-Aickin and Abhi Chinniah.

Outreach Advisors are available to discuss your applications. We will give you details on how to contact them for support once you have registered to apply for the fund.