Grants & Funding

Creative Communities NZ Funding Scheme

The Creative Communities Scheme is a partnership between Creative New Zealand (the national arts development agency) and local councils in New Zealand. Each council takes responsibility for delivering the scheme in its area. Local decision making is the key to the scheme and applications are considered by an assessment committee who have knowledge and experience of the arts in their area.

One of the most significant ways in which Creative New Zealand can support the development of the arts in New Zealand is by funding a diverse range of arts projects in local communities.

There are two funding rounds each year, held in March and September.

Purpose Of The Scheme

The Creative Communities Scheme supports and encourages local communities to create and present diverse opportunities for accessing and participating in arts activities within their specific geographical area as well as for defined communities of interest.

Under the scheme "the arts" is defined as "all forms of creative and interpretative expression".

A community may be based around a place, a cultural tradition, or commonly held interests or experience.

Who Can Apply?

Any group, organisation or individual, however individuals must be New Zealand citizens or a permanent resident.

If you've previously received funding under the Creative Communities Scheme, either as an individual or as a member of a group, you must have completed a Project Report form for the earlier project before any further applications from you will be considered.

Eligible Requirements

All eligible projects must be arts and cultural projects and meet all of the following criteria:

• Meets one of the three funding criteria (see Funding Criteria)
• Must be completed within 12 months after the funding is approved
• Application must be on the standard application form provided by Creative New Zealand
• Have arts or creative cultural focus
• Benefit local communities
• Take place within the city or district to which the application is made, and benefit local communities within that district or city
• Not have started before an application for funding is approved
• Not have been already funded by Creative New Zealand for the same purpose
• Not have already been funded through Creative New Zealand's multi-year funding programme

Funding Criteria

Your project must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Broad Community Involvement - The project will create opportunities for local communities to engage with and participate in arts activities.
• Diversity - The project will support the diverse arts and cultural traditions of local communities, enriching and promoting their uniqueness and cultural diversity.
• Young People - The project will enable and encourage young people (under 18 years) to engage with and actively participate in the arts.

Eligible Activities and Projects:

• Art focused exhibitions, productions, concerts, festivals, dance (arts or cultural focus) and workshops and dance that has arts and cultural focus (such as folk, ballet, taiaha, highland dance, classical Indian dance, cultural dance, contemporary dance jazz and rock'n roll)
• Personnel costs and materials for one-off, short-term projects (such as making costumes for dance or painting materials)
• Artist development - costs associated with artist in-residence schemes or seminars for local artists or groups
• Arts related promotional activities, events or programmes
• Community participation and engagement opportunities for communities and groups
• Support for the arts of ethnic communities projects and activities that support ethnic traditions and arts
• Projects focusing on young people - youth art events, such as concerts, competitions, presentations, workshops and art camps and school based projects that are outside the school's core curriculum
• Projects linked to other sectors such as arts projects, health, heritage or environment, provided the project's main focus is to achieve art outcomes (such as professional dancers working with a group of disabled performers to produce a show, a workshop for artists to create work themed on the history of the city or district or a youth art exhibition of sculptures made from recycled materials)

Projects or Activities That Cannot be Funded

• Activities without an art focus (eg puzzles, model making, speech contests, fitness based on dance or martial arts)
• Activities that are the direct responsibility of schools or other education institutions
• Projects that are the core business of an organisation or service provider
• Entry fees for competitions, contests or exams
• Prize money, awards or judges fees
• Ongoing administration and service costs not related to a specific project
• The development of facilities, such as fixed items, white ware, floor coverings
• Buying capital items or equipment such as cameras, computers or instruments
• Travel for individuals or groups to attend events, presentations or shows
• Catering costs for an event
• Fundraising projects or related costs

Assessing your Application

The Napier City Council's Assessment Sub-committee meet to finalise decisions approximately three weeks after the close-off date. Applicants will be notified of the decision in writing.

Applications are assessed on the criteria mentioned above, plus the following:

• Quality of the project
• Artistic merit
• Impact on the local arts community
• Your ability to make it happen
• Good project planning and budgeting
• Level of financial need
• Viability of project where a project cannot be fully funded

Applications Should Include the Following:

• A detailed budget
• A project description, including dates, numbers of participants, and a programme of what you intend to achieve. If you are paying fees to artists or tutors include a brief CV of who they are and their role in your project.
• If an individual include information on your background, work, and things you may have done/been involved in the past.
• Financial information summarising your group's finances for the last financial year.

Application forms for funding rounds are available on this website and from the following sites:

Napier and Taradale Public Libraries, Creative Napier and the Community Development Department at the Napier City Council.

Documents

  

Creative Communities Scheme Application Form

Version: pdf (719Kb) |

Creative Communities Scheme Glossary

Version: pdf (267Kb) |

Creative Communities Scheme Project Report Form

Version: pdf (201Kb) |

Creative Communities Scheme Guide for Applicants

Version: pdf (244Kb) |

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