Arts Foundation of New Zealand

The Arts Foundation of New Zealand is an independent charitable trust established in 1998 to identify, develop and reward excellence in all New Zealand art forms.

The Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Awards are one of New Zealand's largest literary cash awards and the only private awards to cover a range of art forms. It is a career award, not tagged to any particular project. The recipients are prime movers in New Zealand culture and the Award assisted them to achieve their full potential, ensure that their talents are celebrated both nationally an internationally.

The Arts Foundation has also has established an honours system to celebrate the living icons of New Zealand arts. The Arts Foundation of New Zealand Icon Artists will be awarded every two years until there is a living circle of up to 20 Icon Artists.