Frequently asked questions
For creatives
What do you mean by 'creatives'? I'm not an artist – does this apply to me?
We’re using the term ‘creatives’ to make it clear that this programme is about creative learning experiences and creative thinking. You don’t need to be an ‘artist’ or describe yourself as one – there’s creativity in game design, fashion design, spoken word, storytelling, and much more.
A creative could also be a person who is very skilled and knowledgeable in cultural arts such as tapa making, weaving, or knitting, tīrākau.
I really want to work with a kura. How can I do that?
If you already have a relationship with a kura, you can ask them if they would like to put together a joint proposal (application) with you. If you don’t have a relationship with a kura, indicate that you’d like to work with them when you submit your expression of interest . Note that you need to have a certain level of proficiency in te reo to work in a kura – you can talk with the kura about what they expect this to be.
Can I submit my expression of interest in te reo?
Most definitely! Schools and kura can submit their joint applications in te reo or in English.
I’m only available at certain times but I still want to be involved. Is that possible?
Yes, when you submit your expression of interest , there’s a section where you can specify when and where you’re available. This will help you and the school or kura to work out your availability together.
Will I be left with a class by myself?
No, Creatives in Schools is about schools or kura and creative practitioners working together, so you’ll always have a teacher or kaiako with you.
I haven’t been chosen but I still want to take part. What should I do?
We know there’s a lot of interest in Creatives in Schools, but only a certain number of projects are funded in each round, so some will miss out. You can re-apply in future rounds.
We also recommend contacting your local schools and kura to develop a project instead of waiting to be selected.
How can I find out more about this programme?
You can get in touch by emailing CreativesinSchools@education.govt.nz
Can organisations apply to the Creatives in Schools programme?
Schools can partner with organisations, companies, and/or individuals. Creative organisations or companies will have to identify the individual creative(s) that will work with the school or kura. The application will need to demonstrate how the Creatives in Schools project will be above and beyond an organisation or company’s usual activity in schools. The $10,000 funding must be used to remunerate the identified individual creative(s) who will deliver the project.
How many creatives may be involved in a project?
A project may involve 1–3 creatives and a number of schools and kura. In terms of funding, the creative(s) who deliver the project will be remunerated a fixed total amount of $10,000. If two or three creatives are involved, this will be split between the creatives. If two creative practitioners are delivering 50 hours of contact time each then this will total 100 contact hours.
Can I claim reimbursement of time spent to plan the project and submit the joint application?
The creative’s fee of $10,000 includes 100 contact hours PLU planning, preparation, and evaluation time. If your project application is unsuccessful, you cannot claim the time spent on planning and preparing the application.
Can I take my own designed project to schools and kura and apply funding from the Creatives in Schools programme?
Yes, but you will need to work with the teacher and kaiako to ensure that the project is tailored for the needs of the students and ākonga at that school or kura.
Will the Ministry of Education find me a school or kura to work with?
No. We will publish your anonymised profile on this Arts Online website. It is up to schools and kura which creative(s) they chose to work with. If a school requests your details, we will provide them.
Can I edit my profile after it has been published on this Arts Online website?
Yes. Send your edited profile to CreativesinSchools@education.govt.nz and we will update your profile.
Can I do this project for free or less than $10,000?
No, you cannot. $10,000 is a fixed remuneration which a creative practitioner will get to deliver a creative project in a school/kura. Fair remuneration for creative(s) is a key part of the programme.
How much of the 100 contact hours should be allocated to collaborative planning?
Total remuneration for creative practitioner/s is $10,000. This will cover 100 contact hours, including contact time with students and planning time with teachers. We expect a minimum of 85 contact hours with students. It also covers any additional time that the creative professional or professionals spend:
- on their own planning and preparation
- applying for the project
- participating in induction & training for the project
- on final project report preparation.
I have submitted my expression of interest. What happens next?
We will publish your anonymised profile on the website. If a school or kura selects your profile from the website, they will request your complete profile from us, and we will send them your full profile. Schools or kura will then contact you to discuss further.
Who should submit the joint application, the creative or the school?
The school/kura is responsible for submitting the application, but it must have been developed jointly with you. If the application is successful, the school or kura will sign a contract with the Ministry of Education. They will then sign a contract with the creative practitioner/s.
We are two creatives and have designed a 50-hour programme with the school, so that together we will spend 100 contact hours with the students. Is this possible?
Yes, that is correct. 100 contact hours is the total number of hours the creative practitioner/s must spend delivering the project, including contact time with students and planning time with teachers. This also includes any additional time the creative professional or professionals spend on planning, preparation, training, and reporting. We expect a minimum of 85 contact hours with students. If two creative practitioners are delivering 50 hours of contact time each then this will total 100 contact hours.
Is the Creatives in Schools programme only open to New Zealand residents? Or is there potential to submit applications from established art teachers outside of NZ?
The Creatives in Schools programme is only for New Zealand residents and the creatives need to be present in New Zealand to deliver the project physically in the classroom.
Can I apply with more than one school for more than one project?
Yes, this is possible, but you need to ensure that you have time for both projects.
For schools and kura
How will schools and kura be supported to participate in Creatives in Schools?
Schools and kura receive funding for teacher and kaiako release for planning, liaison with the creative practitioner, and the monitoring and reporting involved with the project. Funding is also available for project materials and/or travel costs.
If you need support with your application, please email our Creatives in Schools regional coordinators, cisregionalsupport@core-ed.ac.nz
For questions about the programme, email creativesinschools@education.govt.nz
When do projects need to take place?
Projects selected for Round 4 must take place in the 2023 school year.
When can schools apply for Round 4 projects?
Round 4 applications for projects in 2023 will open in June 2022 and close in August 2022.
What year levels is the programme aimed at?
Creatives in Schools is designed for all school-aged students from years 1–13.
Which schools can participate in Creatives in Schools?
All primary and secondary state schools, state-integrated schools, and kura.
What happens if our application is not successful in the round we apply for?
The Ministry of Education will inform you if your school or kura is not chosen in the round you apply for. You can also re-apply in future rounds.
When do we apply for a police vet check for our creative?
Before a creative can start working in a school and kura, they must undergo a police vetting check. This will be organised by the school and kura.
In past rounds, projects have been delayed due to delays in police vetting. You should apply for police vetting of your creative as soon as your application has been successful. Please visit the New Zealand Police website for more information.
When do we submit the police vetting check report for our creative?
You must submit the report to CreativesinSchool@education.govt.nz as soon as you have received the police vetting report of your creative(s). You do not have to apply for a police vetting check before submitting your joint application. Please note, you cannot start your project without getting your creative(s) police vetted.
How much time of the creative’s 100 contact hours should be allocated to collaborative planning?
Total remuneration for creative practitioner/s is $10,000. This will cover 100 contact hours, including contact time with students and planning time with teachers. We expect a minimum of 85 contact hours with students. It also covers any additional time that the creative professional or professionals spend:
- on their own planning and preparation
- applying for the project
- participating in induction & training for the project
- on final project report preparation.
What is the maximum number of students and ākonga who may participate in a creative project?
This will need to be agreed between the creative and the school and kura.
Can private schools participate in this programme?
The Creatives in Schools programme is only for state and state-integrated schools and kura.
How many schools and kura may be involved in a project?
For each project, a number of schools and kura, or a cluster of schools, may participate. One school will need to take the lead and become the point of contact for the Ministry of Education.
Can we claim reimbursement of lead teacher time spent in planning the project and submitting the joint application?
No, you cannot claim for time spent planning and submitting a joint application. However, you can budget for and claim up to $4,000 for teacher and kaiako release time during the project, for planning and liaison with the creative, and for monitoring and reporting on the project.
Can we give the creative practitioner koha from the $10,000 fee of the creative?
The $10,000 fee is to be paid directly to the creative and is not to be used for any other purpose. If you want to give additional koha to the creative(s) you will have to manage this from your own resources.
Can we use the funding provided to buy a gift for the creative?
No. The funding provided is tagged for the creative, teacher release time, project materials, and travel.
Can we do our existing art project under the Creatives in Schools programme?
The Creatives in Schools programme is intended to provide creative learning experiences for students and ākonga that are over and above what a school is already expected to deliver (through the curriculum). A Creatives in Schools project could either be completely new or could enhance or extend an existing art project within your school. However, this will need to be agreed between you and the creative(s) you are working with. The creative(s) and the teacher/kaiako should work together to prepare the joint application and plan the project. The project must meet the selection criteria for Creatives in Schools projects.
Can I negotiate with the creative to deliver the project for free or less than $10,000?
No, the $10,000 is a fixed remuneration that the participating creative practitioner(s) will receive when delivering a creative project in a school/kura.
Will a teacher be present at all times during project sessions?
Yes, there must be a teacher present at all times to support the creative(s) in delivering this project. The Creatives in Schools programme is also designed to support teachers learning new skills. Teachers are expected to work in the classroom with the creative(s) and not use them as a substitute teacher. You and the creative(s) should discuss how you will work together and review this as the project progresses.
Can I submit a joint application and find my creative afterwards?
No, this is a collaborative project. You cannot plan and submit a joint application without the involvement of an artist or creative practitioner from the onset of the project.
Can we work with an organisation or company and apply to participate in the Creatives in Schools programme?
Yes. The Creatives in Schools programme is open to organisations, companies, and individuals. Organisations will have to identify their individual creative(s) to work with an identified school or kura.
Can we carry out our project in less than 8 or more than 20 weeks?
No. All projects should last from 8 to 20 weeks only. This is to ensure that there is sufficient time for everyone to get the most out of the project.
If you don’t find an answer to a question or concern you have on this website, please contact the Creatives in Schools team CreativesinSchools@education.govt.nz
Can a school have two concurrent artists in the school, doing different projects, under this scheme?
Yes, this is possible, but you need to ensure that the school has capacity for both projects.
Our school needs support and upskilling in digital creative design. Is this something we could apply for funding for under the Creatives in School programme?
Yes, you can apply for a project in digital creative design. Schools and kura should always identify the requirements and creative needs of their students and ākonga before they design a creative project for their school or kura.
Is it appropriate to use the funding to purchase a microphone, camera, laptop, or any other capital items?
There is a budget of up to $3,000 for project materials. We understand that projects may require capital items to support their creative such as a camera, microphone, laptop, etc. We recommend that you don’t use all of this funding for capital expenditures.
Page last updated: 16 June 2022
Watch this space for future updates.