Funding sources
Find sources of funding and grants for the museum and gallery sector. To increase your chances of being funded follow this guide from Te Papa.
COVID-19 recovery funds
Museum hardship fund
A $2 million Museum Hardship Fund, administered by Te Papa, will support museums to get up and running again. Many museums, galleries and heritage organisations have faced significant loss of revenue during the COVID-19 restrictions. This funding will go towards protecting jobs, caring for heritage collections, providing public access to these collections, and keeping museums operating.
Museum hardship fund - Manatū Taonga website
Tourism transitions programme
The government’s $400m tourism recovery package will support the industry to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tourism transitions programme - MBIE website
Arts and culture recovery packages
Manatū Taonga, Ministry for Culture & Heritage are focused on the recovery, regeneration and revitalisation of the cultural sector. This page outlines the initiatives they are funding and delivering, to help our sector thrive.
Funding is available to Pasifika, Mātauranga Māori, arts, music and heritage organisations.
Arts and culture recovery packages - Manatū Taonga website
ASIA New Zealand Foundation Museums Aotearoa Awards
The Asia New Zealand Foundation offers a range of grants to the New Zealand Museums Sector aimed at: developing increased awareness of Asia by the New Zealand museums and art galleries sector, greater understanding of Asian material and its handling, the development of professional networks between Asia and New Zealand cultural institutions, and an increased number of Asian-related exhibitions.
Arts opportunities - Asia New Zealand Foundation website
Creative New Zealand
Creative New Zealand offers a variety of opportunities that include funding for emerging and established arts organisations. Use the Creative New Zealand funding calendar to get an overview of the funding rounds opening up.
Funding calendar - Creative New Zealand website
Earthquake strengthening - Heritage EQUIP
Heritage EQUIP offers funding towards professional advice and seismic strengthening work for heritage buildings.
Helping Hands Grant - National Services Te Paerangi
Get materials, services and information for your museum or gallery. Maximum funding request: $1,500 including GST.
Helping Hands Grant - Te Papa website
Heritage grants - Lottery Grants Board
You can apply to the Lottery Environment and Heritage Committee for grants to fund projects that ‘promote, protect and conserve New Zealand’s natural, physical and cultural heritage’ -- including publications, museums, whare taonga and art galleries.
Lottery Environment and Heritage Committee - Community Matters
Oranga Marae - Te Puni Kōkiri
Oranga Marae is a programme of support, advice and investment for marae. It gives whanau and hapū advice and support to help develop their marae and achieve their goals, including building projects and activities to revitalise cultural knowledge. A key goal is to strengthen the ability of marae to pass on their ancestral knowledge of whaikōrero, karanga and local mātauranga, tikanga and kawa to descendants.
Paul Reynolds (No Numpties) Grant
Spend time working with an overseas institution to research and develop specialist digital knowledge or experience. The grant is for people working in the GLAM (Gallery, Library, Archive and Museum) sector and is worth $5,000.
Grants & Awards - LIANZA website
Professional Development Grant
Access museum or gallery training programmes - local or international - with long term benefits for you, your organisation, and the sector. Maximum funding request: $1,000 excluding GST.
National Services Te Paerangi Professional Development Grant - Te Papa website
Regional Culture and Heritage Fund - Manatū Taonga, Ministry for Culture & Heritage
You can apply for funding to bridge genuine fundraising shortfalls to achieve specific capital projects. The Regional Culture and Heritage Fund (RCHF) is a contestable fund of last resort, typically contributing the last third (or less) of the qualifying capital project’s cost.
Regional Culture & Heritage Fund - Manatū Taonga, Ministry for Culture & Heritage website
Region-specific grants
Visit your local council's websites to see what grants they have available.
Travel Subsidy Grant
Subsidies for travel expenses associated with museum or gallery training in New Zealand. Maximum funding request: $300 including GST.
National Services Te Paerangi Travel Subsidy Grant - Te Papa
Waitangi Day celebrations contestable fund - Manatū Taonga, Ministry for Culture & Heritage
Regional museums and art galleries can apply for grants to support events that commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and promote nation and community building. Grants generally range from $1,000-5,000.
Waitangi Day Fund - Manatū Taonga, Ministry for Culture & Heritage website
Still searching?
Generosity New Zealand provides online search tools which offer access to nearly $4 billion of funds. You can access these at your local Council library: https://generosity.org.nz/giv-us
We welcome information about other funds relevant to the museum sector. Please contact us with details. You might also find relevant opportunities on our scholarships and awards page.