The Arts
Are Powered
By People

GM Jessica Palalagi, Paora Sharples, His Excellency Dr Richard Davies, 2024 Icon Whakamana Hiranga Tā Pita Sharples, Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, Co-Chair Chelsea Winstanley, Trustee Hamish Edgar, Co-Chair Kent Gardner, Kaumātua Joe Harawira — Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi General Manager / Kaiwhakahaere Jessica Palalagi, Paora Sharples, His Excellency Dr Richard Davies, 2024 Icon Whakamana Hiranga Sir Dr Tā Pita Sharples, Her Excellency The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro, Co-Chair Chelsea Winstanley, Trustee Hamish Edgar, Co-Chair Kent Gardner, Kaumātua Joe Harawira.

Join Us

Back The Arts

Two Artists Receive Our Highest Honour

Icon Awards Whakamana Hiranga are bestowed to a living circle of 20 of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most significant artists for their extraordinary lifetime achievements and mark on the arts.

Meet our 2024 Icon Whakamana Hiranga

Springboard Nominations Now Open

Kickstart sustainable art careers with $15,000 and a year of mentorship! We're looking for artists of any discipline, brimming with potential and ready to take their artistic practice to the next level.

Nominate Outstanding Artists

The 2024 Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureates at the Laureate Lunch: Lonnie Hutchinson, Victor Rodger ONZM, Miriama McDowell, Saskia Leek, Horomona Horo, Alison Wong, Carin Wilson Kahui Whetu Ngā Aho, and Claire Cowan. — The 2024 Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureates: Lonnie Hutchinson, Victor Rodger ONZM, Miriama McDowell, Saskia Leek, Horomona Horo, Alison Wong, Carin Wilson Kahui Whetu Ngā Aho, and Claire Cowan.

2024 Laureates

The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi welcomes eight new Laureates to our 130-strong alumni of remarkable Aotearoa New Zealand artists.

Meet our 2024 Laureates

The 2002 Laureates: Shona McCullagh MNZM, Helen Medlyn MNZM, Don McGlashan, Warwick Freeman, and Jacob Rajan MNZM

Our Artists

Since 2000, The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi have been unapologetically backing New Zealand’s most outstanding artists – with financial gifts, mentorship and epic recognition. We do this by awarding them New Zealand’s most prestigious arts awards: Icon Whakamana Hiranga, Laureate and Springboard – ultimately growing a remarkable alumni of artists from across disciplines and generations.

Meet our artists

Givers Bentley de Beyer, Dean Sharpe, and AFTTT Lead Jo Blair at Kotahi drinks Queenstown 2024.

Our Giving Collective

The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi is New Zealand’s only national arts organisation that is 100% powered by people. We are a generous and diverse community of givers from across the country who want to contribute to a more creative Aotearoa. We’re growing a movement of arts backers (crushing all stereotypes of what philanthropy looks like) for the betterment of all New Zealanders (and we have a lot of fun while we’re at it…).

How to power the arts

2020 Icon Sir Sam Neill KNZM, previous Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Chair Garth Gallaway, and 2012 Laureate Rachel House ONZM

Come With Us

Are you into music, books, theatre, film, visual arts, photography and more? Do you like refreshing conversations, learning new things, and delving into the big issues facing Aotearoa through the eyes of our creatives? Are you into connection, getting out of your comfort zone and being part of something genuinely transformative? Go on then.

Join the movement

The Impact
We Have

Since 2000, we’ve been on a mission to back the arts in Aotearoa New Zealand – because we know a thriving nation is one that values creativity. So what does that look like?

Hear It From Our Artists

2006 Laureate Oscar Kightley MNZM speaking at the 2023 Laureate Awards.

Our Awards

Lady Susan Satyanand, 2011 Icon Whakamana Hiranga Sir Peter Jackson ONZ KNZM, and his excellency the Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyanand Governor General of New Zealand at the 2011 Icon Awards

2020 Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Springboard Award Recipient Arjuna Oakes

2010 Harriet Friedlander Resident Seung Yul Oh

1995 Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellow Fiona Farrell ONZM left on her fellowship to Menton visiting New Zealand writer Michelanne Forster right — 1995 Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellow Fiona Farrell ONZM (left) on her fellowship to Menton visiting New Zealand writer Michelanne Forster (right)

2021 A Moment in Time recipient Nigel Borell

Ann Mallinson and 2023 Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award Recipient Giselle Clarkson

Across the country, our artists shape and enrich our national identity. And in these times of uncertainty and competitive Government funding, they need our collective support! Find out how our community backs New Zealand’s most outstanding artists through our Awards.

View All Awards

The first ever Laureates in 2000 with AF Trustees and Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Since 1998

The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi has awarded over $13 million to New Zealand artists and organisations with awards steeped in mana, mauri and honour.

About Us

Boosted

New Zealands Art Crowdfunding Platform

Powered by the Parkin Gift

Boosted is all-or-nothing crowdfunding, so these creatives need to reach their target to get their mahi off the ground. Check out the projects closing soon, and give what you can to help make great things happen.

2028

Successful Projects
94

Success Rate (2024)
14437868

Total Raised
128658

Donations

See All Projects Crowdfund Your Own Project

Explore Boosted Projects

See All Projects

The Impact of The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi

All In
For Arts

A free breakfast series in towns and cities across Aotearoa, celebrating creativity in New Zealander's lives. Each featuring five speakers offering diverse perspectives, in five short rounds - all over coffee and kai. In partnership with Creative New Zealand, supported by Chartwell Trust and The Lion Foundation, and powered by our media partner, Stuff.

This Year's Events

2022 Laureate Hone Kouka MNZM speaking at All In For Arts Kirikiriroa Hamilton, 2023

There's something about art that brings me closer to my sense of identity and belonging.”

Dinnie Moehau, New Plymouth District Councillor and speaker at All In For Arts New Plymouth 2022.

Events Happening Now

We come to you. See what we are up to around the country - and come along for the ride! Everyone is welcome: wether you're an arts lover, arts curious or never set foot in a gallery before.

View All Upcoming Events