Would you describe yourself as an artist, videographer, social media campaigner, events organiser, creative writer, musician or performer?

Are you passionate about ending the shame, judgement and social exclusion that people living with mental distress can face?

Applying for one of our two Creative Grants for up to $10,000 is as easy as following these three steps:
1. Reading our tips page, which provides pointers on how to give your project the best chance of success
2. Reading the themes below, to figure out which one your project will fit under
3. Downloading our Creative Grant application pack, which includes our criteria, themes list, application form, information on what to include in your video or written project proposal and where you can send your application form to apply. 

Apply for a Creative grant now!
(application pack will download)

Applications are now open and close at 5pm, Friday 9 October 2020.

For any questions, please email:
info@mediagrants.org.nz

Choose from the following themes:

Mental distress and COVID-19
A creative project questioning whether COVID-19 has changed the way we see people with mental distress. Have our collective hard times helped New Zealanders to understand more about what living with mental health challenges could be like? Has spending more time online and in physical isolation made people more accepting of mental distress experiences? Your project could question whether mental distress discrimination has heightened or decreased during COVID-19, and what we could change to make Aotearoa a more understanding place for the one in five of us living with distress this year.

Mad pride
A creative project showcasing the benefits and strengths that living with mental distress can bring. How does experiencing mental distress make us stronger? What unique perspectives can it give us? Your project should hero the voices of people who have experienced mental health challenges, celebrating the diversity and talents they contribute to our communities.

Culturally speaking: Perceptions of mental distress from a te ao Māori worldview
A creative project exploring how the experience of mental distress is seen from a Māori worldview. What does stigma, discrimination and social exclusion look like through a Māori lens? How does connection to whānau, iwi, hapū and tikanga contribute to wellbeing, healing, recovery and social inclusion?

Busting the myths
A creative project which busts the myths about people who live with mental distress by challenging common stereotypes or untruths about them. What’s it really like to live with mental health challenges? Why do some stereotypes around certain diagnoses persist, and how can we challenge them? Your project should aim to dispel these negative notions by showing the real experiences of New Zealanders who live with mental distress and how incorrect myths around their experiences can hurt and harm them.

The identities that make us: Intersectionality and mental distress
A creative project exploring how living with mental distress alongside other often-marginalised identities can intersect to create complex life experiences. What does living with mental distress look like if you also identify as rainbow, Pasifika or Māori, or have a background as a refugee? How do these identities combine to create a different perspective on mental distress discrimination, and what can we do to be more inclusive and learn more about these experiences?

All projects must address mental distress stigma, discrimination and social exclusion. All projects must also be centred around people with lived experience, rather than their providers or whānau.

Applications for research projects, service delivery or study costs will not be accepted.