The Pacific Arts Committee of Creative New Zealand has announced its latest round of funding for heritage arts projects, recognising a common need to pass on cultural knowledge and skills to New Zealand born Pacific children. The number of community groups seeking support for heritage arts projects has increased substantially, with funding being offered to Tuvaluan, Tokelauan, Niuean, Fijian, Samoan, Tongan and Rotuman communities. There are four Pacific Arts funding programs: Pacific Islands Arts Development; Pacific Islands Arts Promotions; Pacific Islands Heritage Arts and Pacific Islands Tangata Whenua Links, with cultural workshops, artists-in-residence programs and projects profiling Pacific arts and artists internationally, among the recipients of the $133,320 allocated by the Committee. Chair of the Pacific Arts Committee, Marilyn Kohlhase, has commended the energy and commitment of the communities seeking to preserve their cultures, noting in a media release that ‘Heritage arts are the backbone of our Pacific arts.' A full list of grants offered by Creative New Zealand is available at: www.creativenz.govt.nz/funding/grants/index.html