'The Arts Foundation of New Zealand Te Tumu Toi is a New Zealand arts organisation that supports artistic excellence and facilitates private philanthropy through raising funds for the arts and allocating it to New Zealand artists.

The concept of setting up an organisation to raise private funding for the arts was initiated by Creative New Zealand in 1997. Its chair Brian Stevenson approached Richard Cathie to chair a working party on the subject and Sir Ronald Scott was appointed consultant, with help from Gisella Carr. Early working party members and trustees included Lady Mary Hardie Boys, Lady Gillian Deane, Dame Jenny Gibbs, Sir Paul Reeves, Sir John Todd, Sir Miles Warren and Sir Eion Edgar.

The foundation was incorporated as a charitable Trust in 1998 with Richard Cathie remaining as chair. Seed funding of $5m was secured from The Lottery Grants Board payable over 5 years and the foundation was launched in 2000.

The foundation produces award programmes that provide recognition and money prizes to New Zealand artists working in across all art forms. This includes writers, fine artists, musicians, dancers, choreographers, theatre-makers and screen artists.^[1][2]

Jessica Palalagi was appointed General Manager in 2022.^[3]

In 2002 Simon Bowden was appointed Executive Director and in 2003 the organisation held its first awards.^[4][5] By 2008 the Arts Foundation had established an endowment fund of NZ$6 million and donated $3 million to over 100 artists across arts disciplines.^[6]

In 2012 the Arts Foundation launched Boosted a crowdsourced funding platform.^[7] The Arts Foundation Awards celebrate achievement in an artists career. Donations come from Patrons of the Arts Foundation and other sources and are awarded directly to artists at the annual New Zealand Arts Awards.^[1]

Promotion of the arts is also part of the mandate of the Arts Foundation. In September 2019, the Arts Foundation launched the first New Zealand Arts Month. This campaign was supported by Creative NZ, Chartwell Trust, NZME, Phantom and Go Media.^[4]

There is no application for the awards. Artists are selected by an independent panel of arts peers or curators and recipients of awards are selected without their knowing they are under consideration. The Arts Foundation administers this process.^[8][9]

The Icon Awards, Whakamana Hiranga recognise a lifetime of achievement. Artists considered to have prominence and outstanding potential receive The Laureate Award. Artists in the early stages of their career were selected to receive a New Generation Award, and now receive a Springboard Award and mentorship from a Laureate or Icon.^[4]

In partnership, the foundation produces the Marti Friedlander Photographic Award, of $25,000NZD to assist the career of a photographer, and the Harriet Friedlander Residency, which is a residency in New York valued at $80,000NZD.

The Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award was presented for the first time in 2011. The award is presented every two years to a children's book illustrator with published work of a high standard and includes a cash gift of $15,000.^[10][11]

The Arts Foundation also administers the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship awarding a residency to Menton in France for a writer.^[12][8]

The Arts Foundation of New Zealand established the Icon Awards as a means to celebrate and acknowledge New Zealand art-makers who have achieved the highest standards of artistic expression.^[13]

Limited to a living circle of 20, Icons are pioneers and leaders from all arts disciplines, living and working around the world. To date, 41 artists have been acknowledged as Icons. In 2003, eight artists were honoured, followed by one in 2004, seven in 2005, five in 2007, five in 2011, five in 2013, two in 2015, five in 2018, and three in 2020.^[14]

Each Icon receives a medallion and pin designed by sculptor John Edgar. The recipient is gifted the pin in perpetuity, while the medallion is presented to a successor at a future Icon Award ceremony following the artist's death.

In 2008 the Arts Foundation began commissioning oral histories from Icons. In time, the foundation hopes that an oral history will be deposited with the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington covering the life of each Icon artist. This will ensure the artists' stories are on public record and available for future generations.

In October 2020, multiple allegations of historical sexual abuse were made against composer Jack Body, who had received the award in 2015 shortly before his death, by a number of his former students.^[15] In November 2020, the allegations were described by Victoria University as "very credible", and the Arts Foundation announced that it had suspended Body's status as an Arts Icon while it "awaited further information".^[16] In January 2022, following a formal apology by the university to these students, the Arts Foundation confirmed that his award was no longer recognised by the organisation.^[17]

Living Icons

More information Name, Portrait ...

	Name	Portrait	Year of award	Age	Discipline
1	Maurice Gee		2003	92	Novelist
2	Sir Donald McIntyre CBE		2004	91	Opera singer
3	Patricia Grace DCNZM QSO		2005	86	Writer
4	Dame Gillian Weir DBE		2011	83	Organist
5	Greer Twiss ONZM		2011	86	Sculptor
6	Sir Peter Jackson ONZ KNZM		2011	62	Filmmaker
7	Jacqueline Fahey ONZM		2013	94–95	Painter
8	Dame Kiri Te Kanawa ONZ CH DBE AC		2013	80	Opera singer
9	Albert Wendt ONZ CNZM		2018	84	Writer
10	Fred Graham ONZM		2018	95–96	Carver and sculptor
11	Bill Manhire CNZM		2018	77	Writer
12	Dame Gillian Whitehead DNZM		2018	83	Composer
13	Joy Cowley ONZ DCNZM OBE		2020	87	Writer
14	Sir Sam Neill KNZM OBE		2020	76	Actor
15	Sandy Adsett MNZM		2020	84	Visual artist
16	Fatu Feu'u ONZM		2022	77–78	Visual artist
17	Dame Jane Campion DNZM		2022	70	Film director / writer
18	Dame Robin White DNZM		2022	77	Artist
19	Vacant
20	Vacant

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Deceased Icons

More information Name, Portrait ...

Name	Portrait	Year of award	Date of death	Discipline
Len Castle DCNZM CBE		2003	29 September 2011	Potter
Janet Frame ONZ CBE		2003	29 January 2004	Writer
Ralph Hotere ONZ		2003	24 February 2013	Painter
Milan Mrkusich ONZM		2003	13 June 2018	Visual artist
Diggeress Te Kanawa CNZM QSO		2003	30 July 2009	Weaver
Hone Tuwhare		2003	16 January 2008	Poet
Sir Miles Warren ONZ KBE		2003	9 August 2022	Architect
Peter Godfrey CBE		2005	28 September 2017	Musician
Alexander Grant CBE		2005	30 September 2011	Ballet dancer
Pakaariki Harrison QSO		2005	29 December 2008	Carver
Russell Kerr ONZM QSM		2005	23 March 2022	Choreographer
Margaret Mahy ONZ		2005	23 July 2012	Writer
Donald Munro MBE		2005	18 January 2012	Opera singer
Raymond Boyce MBE		2007	1 August 2019	Theatre designer
Don Peebles ONZM		2007	27 March 2010	Painter
Don Selwyn ONZM		2007	13 April 2007	Actor
Arnold Manaaki Wilson MNZM QSM		2007	1 May 2012	Sculptor
Ans Westra CNZM		2007	26 February 2023	Photographer
Barbara Anderson		2011	24 March 2013	Writer
Marti Friedlander CNZM		2011	14 November 2016	Photographer
Sir Ian Athfield KNZM		2013	16 January 2015	Architect
Geoff Murphy ONZM		2013	3 December 2018	Filmmaker
Cliff Whiting ONZ		2013	16 July 2017	Artist and heritage advocate
Jim Allen MNZM		2015	9 June 2023	Visual artist
Billy Apple ONZM		2018	6 September 2021	Visual artist

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Initially there were five artists honoured annually at the New Zealand Arts Awards ceremony receiving a Laureate Award of a NZ$50,000 grant each and a commissioned sculpture by Terry Stringer. No awards were awarded in 2018, and in 2019 the amount of the prize changed to NZ$25,000, new partnerships and awards were introduced and the Laureate Award will be given to up to ten practising artists.^[18]

The Arts Foundation of New Zealand New Generation Awards, celebrate artists’ early achievements through an investment in each recipient’s career. Biennially, five artists are awarded $25,000NZD each, and a sculpture designed by glass artist Christine Cathie. Although still at an early stage of their career, the artists will have already demonstrated excellence and innovation through their work.

Similar to other Arts Foundation Awards, the New Generation Award may be presented to an artist working in any arts discipline. Teacher, critic, theorist and organiser of contemporary creative practices, Jon Bywater (Auckland) curated the award in 2006, while writer, teacher, painter, curator Gregory O'Brien (Wellington) undertook the role in 2008 and arts radio journalist Lynn Freeman in 2010.^[27]

From 2020 a Springboard award is given to up to ten emerging artists. This consists of NZ$15,000 and mentoring from one of the alumni of Arts Foundation Laureates, Icons, New Generation, residency or Fellowship recipients. Criteria relates to potential for a sustainable career.^[28]

The inaugural Mallinson Rendel Illustrators award, initially worth $10,000 occurred in 2011. It has been awarded every two years up to 2017, and has increased in value.

The Arts Foundation of New Zealand Award for Patronage is made annually to a person, couple, or private trust for the outstanding private contributions they have made to the arts. The Award for Patronage is presented by Perpetual Trust.

As a community of artists and arts supporters, the Arts Foundation honours those who contribute significantly as patrons. Annually, a donation of $20,000NZD from the Arts Foundation is provided to the recipient of this award for them to distribute to artists, arts projects or arts organisations of their choice. Philanthropists Denis and Verna Adam (2006), Dame Jenny Gibbs (2007), Lady Gillian and Sir Roderick Deane (2008),^[32] Adrienne, Lady Stewart (2009) and Gus & Irene Fisher (2010) have been recipients. All recipients have chosen to double the funds for distribution through a matching contribution of $20,000NZD, with Gus and Irene Fisher donating $30,000NZD of their own funds, meaning an annual distribution of up to $50,000NZD. Recipients have also chosen to distribute an amount of $10,000 each to artists and /or arts projects.

The Arts Foundation of New Zealand Governors' Award recognises an individual or institution that has contributed in a significant way to the development of the arts and artists in New Zealand. The recipients are chosen by Arts Foundation Governors, with each recipient receiving a plaque designed by Auckland artist Jim Wheeler.

To date two awards have been made:

The inaugural recipient was the University of Otago in recognition of its contribution to the arts community through its Burns, Hodgkins and Mozart Fellowships. The three Fellowships were set up through the generosity of anonymous benefactors and have subsequently been funded by additional grants to maintain their value.

The second presentation was made to Concert FM (now Radio New Zealand Concert). The Arts Foundation of New Zealand Governors recognised the contribution that Concert FM has made in supporting New Zealand composers, musicians, writers and actors at a national level. The Arts Foundation also acknowledged Concert FM's contribution to the arts through its recording collaborations and the Douglas Lilburn Prize (a joint initiative between Concert FM and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra).

In 2009 a third presentation was made to the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth. In making their selection, Arts Foundation Governors acknowledged the commitment by the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery to the cause of contemporary art, particularly from Aotearoa New Zealand, over the last four decades.

The Marti Friedlander Photographic Award, supported by the Arts Foundation of New Zealand is presented every two years to an established photographer with a record of excellence and the potential to carry on producing work at high levels. The award includes a donation of $25,000NZD for the photographer to use as they please.

The inaugural recipient selected and announced by Marti Friedlander, was Edith Amituanai – a widely exhibited artist and a finalist in a number of awards, including the 2008 Walters Prize. Extended family and immediate community are primary subjects for Edith; she collaborates closely with her Christchurch and Auckland relatives as well as people she grew up with in West Auckland.^[33]

John Miller (an independent social documentary photographer, renowned particularly for his protest images) and Mark Adams (a photographer working with subjects of cross-cultural significance) were joint recipients in 2009.

On 26 June 2008, the Harriet Friedlander Scholarship Trust and the Arts Foundation launched a new international residency.^[34] A supporter of the arts, Harriet Friedlander also loved the vibrant culture of New York. When Michael and Harriet Friedlander and their sons Jason and Daniel designed the residency, Harriet was clear that she did not want to place any expectations or responsibilities on the recipient. An artist was to be sent to New York to have an "experience", all expenses paid, so that they could immerse themselves in the culture and process it in their own way.^[34]

One of the most generous residencies offered to a New Zealand artist, up to $80,000NZD is made available every two years for their travel and living expenses. This opportunity is available to an artist aged 30 to 40, practicing in any discipline.^[34] The inaugural curator was Gregory O'Brien and the inaugural recipient was filmmaker Florian Habicht.