Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ) is excited to announce the successful recipients in the 2024 round of Contestable Fund Grants, with a total of $75,000 granted. This year we received 92 applications, the highest ever number of applications for a Cultural Fund award.
Applications were invited for projects that had clearly defined and measurable outcomes that align with the CLNZ Cultural Fund’s objectives. The diverse range and high standard of applications this year demonstrates the work the sector is doing to upskill authors, writers, and publishers.
The Contestable Fund is part of CLNZ’s Cultural Fund, which derives revenue from CLNZ’s licensing activity in New Zealand. The Cultural Fund supports people and projects that encourage the development of current and future writers, publishers, and educators.
This year funding contributions were made towards the following 13 projects. Congratulations to the following recipients:
- Minarets Journal
Publishing project: Special issue connecting poetry from Aotearoa and South Asia – granted $4000 - SpecFicNZ
Awards project: The creation of a new juried award, associated annual celebration and award website to lift the profile of New Zealand and Pasifika speculative fiction in Aotearoa and beyond – granted $5000 - The Coalition for Books
Strategy project: Aotearoa Book Sector Plan 2030 – granted $5000 - Kotahi Rau Pukapuka Trust
Editing project: Wānanga Whakapakari Kanohi Hōmiromiro, editing te reo Māori manuscripts – granted $7,040 - Āporo Press
Publishing project: Māori Made Difficult x Hinting at Decolonisation – granted $3,500 - Laura Shallcrass
Writing project: Petal and the Luckish (working title), graphic novel for children 6-12 years – granted $5000 - Oratia Books
Publishing project: Moana Oceania: Niue – granted $5300 - Mila’s Books
Writing and publishing project: Mila’s Books Tusitala Mentoring Programme 2025 – granted $7500 - Georgina Tuari Stewart
Publishing project: Ngā Kararehe o Aotearoa – he Mātauranga, he Matatika, development of te reo Māori science education resources – granted $8220 - Saraid de Silva
Writing project: Untitled second novel – granted $7500 - Nelson Festivals Trust
Literacy festival project: 2024 Nelson Arts Festival Pukapuka Talks Podcasts – granted $3400 - Objectspace
Writing and publishing project: Oceanic Routes: Mike Austin and Pacific Architecture – granted $8000 - Michael King Writers Centre
Writing project: Stipend for writer Dominic Hoey whilst attending a residency to work on his fourth book – granted $5000
Special thanks to our selection panel judges Abby Aitcheson, Craig Gamble and Kim Maryann Harris who made the following comments about this year’s applications:
“Almost as soon as applications opened, we had a sense it was going to be a special year. There was a huge diversity of different projects of all shapes and sizes, often very different aspirations, and in record numbers – but it soon became very clear that almost all were of a very high standard. It was uplifting to see so much important mahi taking place in our publishing sector in Aotearoa, and a privilege to be able to help some of them towards realising their aspirations.” – Craig Gamble
“I found this year’s panel to be the most challenging to date, owing to the impressive range of applications from across the publishing sector. The decision-making process was made easier with the insights provided by Kim and Craig, whose presence on the panel was hugely valuable. I would also like to extend my thanks to the CLNZ team for the behind-the-scenes mahi over the years. I wish all the applicants the best of luck as they pursue their projects.” – Abby Aitcheson
“Tuatahi, me mihi ka tika ki a koutou i tuku i ō koutou tono ki tēnei puna pūtea-tautoko o CLNZ, tēnā rā koutou katoa. Everyone’s application was done to such a high standard, and it made the panel judge process incredibly challenging. Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Contestable Fund Grants, I look forward to seeing the fruits of your mahi in 2025 and beyond.” – Kim Maryann Harris
For more information about the successful recipient’s projects visit our website at: https://www.copyright.co.nz/about/news-and-blog/2024-contestable-fund-grants-announced
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About Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ)
CLNZ is a not-for-profit organisation that is jointly owned by The Publishers Association of New Zealand/Te Rau o Tākupu (PANZ) and the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ) Inc, (NZSA). CLNZ plays a key role in making creative rights valuable assets for all New Zealanders, be they rightsholders like writers, publishers and visual artists, or users of creative works such as educators, students, and businesses. CLNZ puts aside a fixed amount of licensing revenue in the Cultural Fund to support people and projects that encourage the development of current and future writers, publishers, and educators to help grow the sector.
