Support us

Since 2003, Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival has been contributing to the cultural vibrancy of Tāmaki Makaurau by bringing world-class events to our city, sharing the joy of live performance, and creating rich and meaningful experiences for artists and audiences.

But we haven’t been doing it alone. As a charitable trust, we are incredibly grateful to our core funders Auckland Council and Creative New Zealand, major funder Foundation North, and the philanthropic support of our other Funders, Partners, Patrons and Donors who help us present this extraordinary event every year.

Donations, Partnerships and Grants help us to deliver performances of scale and ambition by both local and international artists. They help us take the Festival to all of our communities through Accessibility and Creative Learning initiatives. And, they also help us provide an important platform for new and established Aotearoa artists through commissioning opportunities for the Creation of New Work.

Help us continue making Auckland Arts Festival a festival for all by:

• contacting our Head of Partnerships & Development, colleen.edwards@aaf.co.nz;
• making a Donation;
• signing up to Become a Festival Patron; 
• talking to us about Partnering with the Festival.

The Festival is a registered Charity (CC22145). Donations over $5 are tax deductible (33% rebate, excluding the ticket package).

You can choose where your donation goes — to our award-winning Accessibility initiative, our Creative Learning education programmes for schools, or our commitment to the Creation of New Work. 

You can even simply donate the cost of a ticket — a contribution that will directly cover the cost of reserving seats, at the next Festival, for school students and communities working with youth.

Our Patrons are a passionate group who generously contribute to the Festival. Patrons experience a range of benefits including:

• a sneak preview of each Festival programme ahead of public release;
• a complimentary ticket package;
• exclusive event invitations with the opportunity to get up close to our artists;
• the opportunity to host your friends and family before a show;
• access to discounted tickets and a personal booking service;
• recognition of support in the Festival’s marketing materials;
• Platinum Patrons also have the opportunity to direct their support towards a particular show, artist or art form, with the potential for personal engagement with artists and their work through behind-the-scenes experiences.

LEVELS OF PATRONAGE (Donation & Ticket packages):

• “As we live in an ever increasingly digital world, festivals, more than ever, allow people the opportunity to have live experiences, experiences which build bridges between different cultural outlooks.” — Silver Patron, Lady Dayle Mace*

*Sir Chris and Lady Dayle are passionate supporters of the arts in New Zealand and of New Zealand art around the world. Their support, along with that of all Auckland Arts Festival Patrons and Partners, is essential to the Festival’s ongoing success and to the flourishing of arts in our city. Thank you!

Together with our Partners, the Festival transforms the Auckland arts and entertainment scene every March with an incredible lineup of experiences.

Partnerships are vital to the Festival as they enable us to remove barriers to arts participation and empower us to reach more audiences across Auckland. We invite you to craft a tailored partnership with the Festival and align your brand with our unforgettable events for the people of Tāmaki Makaurau.

Our Partners collaborate with the Festival to:

• connect their brand with our discerning audiences and stakeholders, with recognition across a comprehensive marketing and PR campaign alongside opportunities to develop bespoke activations for increased engagement with Festival attendees;
• access exceptional hospitality experiences, with stakeholders and staff treated to exclusive gatherings across a selection of unique Festival events;
• build relationships with our existing network of reputable Partners and Funders and create rich content for their marketing channels around Festival experiences;
• add flair and substance to their community portfolio by partnering with a not-for-profit charitable trust.

Festival Friends is a club for arts lovers who thrive on sharing unforgettable live moments together. Members are the first to know what’s on, enjoy early access to tickets, and unlock exclusive discounts. It's a community that champions inclusivity and connection — supporting artists, audiences and the city we love — while contributing to the future of the Festival.

Annual memberships are only $49 and will re-open for the next Festival in the lead-up to the 2027 lineup announcement in October. Until then, join the waitlist or learn more about the benefits our Festival Friends enjoy:

A group of passionate individuals and organisations proudly call themselves supporters of the Festival, and help us show that art is alive and well in our wonderful city.

Main image: a pre-show hosting for our Partners, including Grand Millennium Auckland and ICBC New Zealand, at Auckland Town Hall before the performance by Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, March 2026. Image by Jinki Cambronero.