Arts Minister Hon Carmel Sepuloni has announced a new Covid-19 Delta Relief Arts Funding package, to provide additional support for the arts sector through Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

The $37.5 million new funding announced is sourced from uncommitted funding for 2022/23 from the existing $374 million Covid Arts and Culture recovery programme. It includes investment for the NZ Music Commission to deliver a second round of the NZ Music Venue Infrastructure Fund, and an expansion of the Aotearoa Touring Programme to assist grant recipients with costs incurred for shows that have been postponed or cancelled due to the current outbreak.

Overall allocation is broken down into four key areas:

• $10M for cultural agencies (Creative NZ, NZ Film Commission, NZ Music Commission and Te Papa) to enable them to support at-risk organisations, key infrastructure, artists and projects 
• $5M Cultural Sector Emergency Relief Fund to be administered by Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage
• Up to $22.5M for to provide confidence for cultural performances and events
• Extending the Screen Production Recovery Fund to at least June 2022  

The $10M brought forward for key sector agencies to provide support has been broken down into:

• $5M to CNZ
• $3M to NZ Music Commission 
• $1M to Te Papa/Museums Aotearoa 
• $1M to NZFC

Information about the Manatū Taonga COVID-19 Delta Relief Funding package is available via www.mch.govt.nz and the Music Commission’s statement is available at www.nzmusic.org.nz.