Grants

Thanks to support from Creative New Zealand, Nelson Fringe is able to offer support to artists from the following communities. Details and a link to apply are on this page. Applications close on Monday 3 November 2025.

• Pasifika Artists
• Māori Artists
• Artists from the Former Refugee or Migrant Communities

CNZ Grants for Pasifika artists

• This is a fund from Creative New Zealand to support Pasifika artists presenting work at Nelson Fringe 2026.
• Funds are available for local artists creating work for the Fringe and for artists touring into Nelson Fringe.
• Funds are also available for development work, for example workshops or mentoring.
• Apply via the Nelson Fringe application form. If you want to discuss with us before you apply please email info@nelsonfringe.co.nz with some info about your project.

Nelson Fringe Grants supporting Māori artists

• Grants available to help developing artists from the Māori community in Te Tauihu present work at Nelson Fringe 2026.
• Grants are available to cover such things as costume or set costs, rehearsal room hire, travel, etc. Most grants will be below $500 but you can apply to a maximum of $1,000.
• Apply via the Nelson Fringe Grant application form. If you want to discuss with us before you apply please email info@nelsonfringe.co.nz with some info about your project.
• Recipients will receive 80% of Fringe Box Office rather than the usual 60%

Nelson Fringe Grants supporting artists from Migrant and Former Refugee communities

• Grants available to help developing artists from these communities based in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough present work at Nelson Fringe 2026.
• Grants are available to cover such things as costume or set costs, rehearsal room hire, travel, etc. Most grants will be below $500 but you can apply to a maximum of $1,000.
• Apply via the Nelson Fringe application form. If you want to discuss with us before you apply please email info@nelsonfringe.co.nz with some info about your project.
• Recipients will receive 80% of Fringe Box Office rather than the usual 60%

The Conditions

The purpose of these grants is to encourage participation in the Nelson Fringe Festival by underrepresented communities.

The Pasifika Grants are supported by Creative New Zealand and administered by Nelson Fringe.

The Māori and the Migrants and Former Refugee Grants are supported and administered by Nelson Fringe.

This means that the conditions are slightly different for each grant.

To be eligible for a grant your project must have a significant relevance to the community. For example:

• the people involved are from the community. (This does not mean that everyone involved has to be from the community).
• the artform might be traditional, for example, Music, Dance, Puppetry, etc. It can also be contemporary, for example theatre dealing with modern issues.
• the performance or exhibit must be open to everyone.
• if not staged in one of our theatres performances must be in Nelson or Richmond.
• you will be asked to present receipts for ALL money spent.
• we do not fund artists wages but you will receive a percentage of the Box Office that you can pay to yourself and your team.
• we will fund fees for artists leading workshops.

Please note:

It does not have to be in English.

Nelson Fringe Festival is mainly for Performing Arts, but we are happy to talk about other art forms.

As well as filling out the grant application form you will need to make an application to perform at Nelson Fringe Festival via Eventotron.

Pasifika Grants are available for performers across New Zealand to perform at Nelson Fringe. Priority will be given to performers from the Top of the South (Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough).

Māori and Migrant and Former Refugee Grants are only available for performers from Te Tauihu/ Top of the South. We will look at supporting artists traveling to Nelson to work with local performers.

If you have any questions, or if you would like us to email the application form please email info@nelsonfringe.co.nz