Founded in 2001, the trust was established to support the Auckland region’s arts, culture and creative sector.  Over the last 20 years the trust has supported programmes and initiatives to support the arts and culture of Tāmaki Makaurau. In 2019, we took the te reo name, Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi, gifted to us by Sir Hugh Kawharu, which was founded as the regional arts trust for Auckland in 2000. 

The city councils of Auckland and Manukau created the Arts Regional Trust in 2000 to manage and grow a fund provided through the disestablishment of Auckland Regional Services Trust.

The capital fund of the trust today is $11.57 million.

The trust was gifted the name Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi by Sir Hugh Kawharu. The Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi name references the many summits of Tāmaki Makaurau, the volcanic cones that define our isthmus, and the vantage points on which we stand to see our world.  Metaphorically, taumata references the aspirations of our artists, and the landscape of support which enables the creative activities of our communities.

Since it was founded, the trust has invested in initiatives to support the Auckland region’s arts, culture and creative industries sector. Our legacy initiatives include the groundbreaking ART programmes: ART Venture, ART Awards, ART Enterprise and Pulse.