About Creative Careers Aotearoa
Creative Careers Aotearoa delivers professional development and career support to creatives looking to secure creative employment or to further their creative careers.
Our flagship programme sees us partner with the Ministry of Social Development, allowing us to work with creatives who are receiving Jobseeker Support. We collaborate with industry partners and employers to help creatives find employment and build sustainable careers while developing their resilience and adaptability.
We are passionate about helping creatives find employment in the creative sector. If you are unemployed and receiving support from Work & Income, ask your Case Manager to refer you, and we can explore if our programme is right for you.
Supported by
The Programme
Creative Careers Aotearoa takes a holistic and practical approach to career development and employability. Our dedicated and highly-skilled team provides tailored support through interactive workshops, one-on-one coaching, networking, mentoring and online learning modules.
We equip creatives with the tools they need to succeed, from job-search strategies to crafting effective CVs, LinkedIn profiles, cover letters and networking. Every step of the way, we focus on building confidence, capability, and real pathways into employment.
We work with
Screen & Stage
- Actors
- Directors
- Screenwriters
- Playwrights
- Cinematographers
- Camera Operators
- Video Editors
- Sound Designers
- Film Crew
- Animators
- Visual FX
- Special FX
- Make-up Artists
- Costume Designers
- Choreographers
- Dancers
Design
- Graphic & Web Designers
- Game Designers
- Architects
- Interior Designers
- Industrial Designers
- Fashion Designers
- Product Designers
- Jewellers
Visual Arts
- Painters
- Photographers
- Sculptors
- Illustrators
- Makers
- Curators
- Gallerists
Music
- Performers
- Composers
- Songwriters
- Producers
- Audio Engineers
- DJs
& more
- Writers
- Comms & Social Media
- Content Creators
- Marketing
- Arts Administrators
Are we right for you?
- Do you have a qualification or experience in the creative sector that you can evidence (e.g. resume, portfolio, website, showreel)?
- Are you motivated to find work in the creative sector, or a side job while sustaining your creative practice?
- Would you value support for your personal, professional and creative development?
- Do you want to network with other creatives and industry professionals and learn practical jobseeking skills?
We can help you to…
- Understand your creative job market
- Build your confidence
- Explore your next career move
- Expand your job search strategies
- Present as a standout candidate
- Prepare for job interviews and employment
- Connect you with employers and industry partners
- Develop a growth mindset and career strategies to ensure long-term sustainability and give you an edge throughout your career
Find out more
If you are on Jobseeker Support you have to complete a compulsory jobseekers course, so why not opt for one that specifically caters to those in the creative industries like yourself?
Creative Careers Aotearoa is a four-month programme that provides tailored support for your job search journey, connects you with a community of creatives and industry experts, and offers ongoing pastoral care after you secure paid work.
We are passionate about taking our creatives to the next level in their careers!
Testimonials
Please Note: Creative Careers Aotearoa was previously called ArtsLab.
Enquire about joining the Creative Careers Aotearoa programme
To be eligible for this programme, you need to be receiving Jobseeker Support. Please contact your MSD Case Manager on 0800 559 009 who can refer you to the programme if appropriate. For general enquiries please get in touch with our team.
Learning Hub / Digital Modules (coming soon)
Access learning anytime, anywhere with our online Learning Hub, hosted on LearnWorlds. Here you’ll find interactive modules, video tutorials, and guided exercises covering everything from business skills for creatives to marketing, project management, knowing your why, resilience and funding applications. Existing programme participants can log in to continue their learning journey at their own pace.
Resources
New Zealand organisations and platforms offering support, advice, funding, mentoring, and resources for artists, musicians, and creative practitioners:
Creative & Arts Career Support and Advocacy
- Creative New Zealand – Toi Aotearoa
The national arts development agency offers funding, capability building, international support, and professional development resources for early-career and established creatives Creative New Zealand - Creative New Zealand – Sustainable Careers Resources
Practical guides and workshops on managing finances, fair remuneration, marketing, and business skills tailored for creatives - Art Makers Aotearoa
- Copyright Licensing New Zealand
- Te Taumata Toi a Iwi
Whānau Māori & Indigenous Artforms
- Toi Māori Aotearoa
Championing the finest of Māori creativity, past, present and future. Toi Iho is the Māori trademark that recognises, authenticates and uplifts Māori artists and the art they produce. - Toi Iho
National trust supporting Māori traditional and contemporary arts, artist networks, gatherings, exhibitions, and international promotion - Lagi Maama – Academy / Consultancy
Lagi-Maama Academy & Consultancy is a cultural organisation based in Aotearoa New Zealand, set up by Toluma’anave Barbara Makuati-Afitu, of Samoan heritage, and Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai, of Tongan heritage. Toluma’anave has a background in stakeholder management and community engagement and Kolokesa in Art History, Social Anthropology and Museums and Heritage Studies. As an Academy we are involved in knowledge production by privileging our Indigenous ways of knowing and seeing, and as a Consultancy we implement by way of knowledge application through privileging our Indigenous ways of doing! Our work connects and builds bridges between institutions and communities through research and writing; community connection and engagement; curatorial advice and critique; capacity and capability building; cultural intelligence and cross-cultural approaches. - Satellites
Connects the past, present and future of Aotearoa Asian art, supporting the development of unique Aotearoa Asian voices. Currently, we are delivering three intertwined projects: a digital archive of Aotearoa Asian artists, a year-long season of online publishing and a visiting artists programme.
Access & Inclusion in Arts
- Arts Access Aotearoa
Champions greater accessibility in the arts for people with disabilities and lived experience, supports creative spaces, and facilitates arts programmes in justice contexts - Audio Description at Able
- Audio Described Aotearoa Ltd, Nicola Owen
Sector-Specific Support
- Dance Aotearoa New Zealand (DANZ)
National support organisation for dance, offering residencies, masterclasses, sector advocacy, and networking opportunities - Play It Strange – Music
- Music Managers Forum
- APRA
- Recorded Music NZ
- Article: Demystifying Music Copyright
- NZ On Air: Music Funding
- Independent Music NZ
- NZ Music Commission
- Music Producers Guild Aotearoa
- 95bfm: Submitting Music
Recognition & Grants
Research, Networking & Opportunities
Screen / Film / TV / Animation / VFX
- Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand (DEGANZ)
- New Zealand Writers Guild (NZWG)
- Women in Film & Television NZ (WIFT NZ)
- Motion Designers Guild of Aotearoa (MDGA)
- Film Auckland
- New Zealand Film Commission – Industry Guilds List
Film Festivals in New Zealand
- Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival
- Doc Edge
- Show Me Shorts Film Festival
- Italian Film Festival NZ
- Māoriland Film Festival
- Rotorua Indigenous Film Festival (RIFF)
Architecture / Design
Mentors
Our network of mentors includes experienced creatives, arts managers, career coaches, producers, and industry leaders who bring real-world knowledge to the table. They offer insight, encouragement, and practical advice, helping you navigate challenges and make informed decisions. Mentoring sessions are tailored to your discipline, career stage, and personal goals.
Services and Support
Career Plans
Work with us to create a personalised career plan that maps out your short and long-term goals, identifies opportunities, and outlines the steps needed to achieve them. We focus on actionable strategies that align with your creative ambitions.
CV Writing and Job Interview Tips
Presenting yourself professionally is key to securing work in both creative and related industries. We offer hands-on guidance for writing CVs and cover letters that stand out, as well as practical interview tips to help you present your skills and experience with confidence.
