Supernova: Back the Next Generation of Artists

This September, The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi is going big for New Zealand's young artists. To celebrate our 25th birthday, we invite you to be part of a national moment rallying around our brightest young creative talent. We're on a mission to raise $250,000 in just one month – to help launch 10 up-and-coming artists into the stratosphere! Plus – with four outstandingly generous match donors already on board, every dollar you donate is doubled up to $125,000. 

This campaign is proudly presented by The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi. We are the only national arts organisation that is 100% powered by generous people from every corner of Aotearoa. With your support, we: 

• Back New Zealand’s most outstanding artists across the disciplines with financial gifts (through our Icon, Laureate and Springboard Awards).
• Empower creatives to connect and talk about their work, and get it funded through our phenomenally successful arts crowdfunding platform, Boosted (yep, this is us!).
• Build a culture of giving to the arts, for the betterment of all New Zealanders.

Supernova is our most ambitious campaign yet – raising $250,000 to launch 10 up-and-coming artists careers. From now until 20 October, we all invite all New Zealanders to give what they can (donations start anywhere from $25). Your support will enable us to inject urgent funding into young creative talent, and continue to raise the profile of the arts on the national agenda. 

We've already secured $100,000 in match funding from generous givers who believe in our mission. That means that every dollar you donate will be doubled in real time! 

How will we get this vital support to young artists?

By galvanising giving across Aotearoa, we can fund 10 or more $25,000 Springboard Awards – backing early-career artists with funding and mentorship.

Springboard aims to kickstart arts careers for artists at a formative stage of their career. Each recipient receives a $15,000 gift, and is matched (with cupid-like consideration!) to a senior artist mentor from the Arts Foundation artist alumni and beyond – past mentors include artists like Shane Cotton ONZM, Lisa Reihana CNZM and Jemaine Clement. Mentors will also receive a $5,000 koha for their time, and $5,000 is included to cover artist travel and promotion.

The impact of Springboard goes well beyond the financial boost. It's about backing artists at a pivotal moment – with funding, mentorship, and a powerful creative community behind them. It's about building momentum, creating sustainable careers, and showing our brightest up-and-comers that there's a future – and a pathway – for them in the arts.

All Springboard recipients are selected by an independent panel of artists and arts industry leaders who know the sector best.

From small sparks come creative supernovas

Young artists are facing big challenges with decreasing grants and restricted government and local government funding. Yet when we invest in young artists, we invest in our collective future. Backing young artists means backing the future stories, sounds, and visions of Aotearoa.

$250,000. 30 days. 10 artists. 5 MILLION potential givers. We’ve been told we’re crazy – but we know New Zealander's value creativity. Let's prove it.