Supporting artists, creative spaces and accessible arts practice across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Arts Access Aotearoa’s fellowship programme provides time, resources and mentoring so recipients can create new work, deepen their practice and contribute to a more inclusive and accessible arts sector.
“As a Deaf Māori filmmaker and artist, I’m a native NZSL user. My storytelling comes from the body, the hands, the eyes and the spaces between people. They are the foundations of how I think, feel and create.”
“This Fellowship gives me the space to explore Deaf-led cinematic methodology that is culturally grounded and led by NZSL.”
Jared Flitcroft, Whakahoa Kaitoi Whanaketanga Creative New Zealand Deaf and Disabled Artists Fellowship 2026
Read Jared’s fellowship storyArts Access Aotearoa offers four fellowships that support artists, practitioners and creative spaces working to increase access to the arts.
Past fellows include Deaf and disabled artists and writers, creative spaces, and artists with lived experience of the justice system.
Supports Deaf and disabled artists to develop new work and advance their creative careers.
Applications closed
Supports practitioners working to improve access for Deaf and disabled artists and audiences.
Applications closed
Supports creative spaces to strengthen practice, explore new approaches and deliver community-centred projects.
Applications closed
Supports artists with lived experience of the justice system, and those working in arts and rehabilitation.
Applications closed
Read stories showing how Arts Access Aotearoa fellowships have supported artists and creative spaces to develop community-driven projects and improve access to the arts.
We acknowledge and thank our funders for their ongoing support of our mahi making the arts accessible to all communities across Aotearoa.
