Supporting Up-and-Coming Artists to Kickstart Creative Careers

2025 marks the sixth year of the Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Springboard programme, which aims to kickstart arts careers for six artists in Aotearoa every year. Along with a $15,000 gift, each recipient will be matched to a senior artist mentor from the Arts Foundation alumni of Laureate, Icon Whakamana Hiranga, New Generation, Residency or Fellowship recipients – or an artist from the wider arts community. Mentors receive a $5,000 koha for their time. These awards are made possible thanks to generous givers across the country who choose to support The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi.

Nominations open Monday 11 November and close Friday 13 December. 

Following nominations, an independent selection panel (made up of artists and experts from a diverse range of disciplines across the creative sector) gather in early 2025 to review the submissions received and ultimately select our Springboard Class of ’25.

To nominate someone for a Springboard Award:
• Head to: www.thearts.co.nz/awards/springboard-award
• Artists can’t nominate themselves, but must be nominated by someone else.
• Applicants currently in secondary school or completing an undergraduate degree are not
eligible for consideration.

Springboard Award criteria:
• The artist must show potential to develop a sustainable career and practice in the arts.
• The award must have major impact on the artist to carry out working as an artist for a year.
• The artist could have developed a practice independent of any formal training institution.
• They will show potential to develop their careers either as independent artists or within a
creative
• The artist needs to show commitment and intent for a career.

There are some awards that have specific criteria:
• The Springboard Award for Dance gifted by Jennifer and Marko Bogoievski
• The Springboard Award for Visual Arts gifted by The Edgar Family
• The Springboard Award for Visual Arts gifted by Dr Fiona Pardington and Starkwhite
• The Springboard Award for Film gifted by Jamie and Ann Selkirk