Creative Communities Funding

Council partners with Creative New Zealand to promote, support and increase participation in community arts and cultural activities in the Waipā district. Each year Creative New Zealand provides Creative Communities Scheme funding to Council to distribute.

There are two funding rounds a year. There is no maximum amount you can apply for, however grants usually range between $500 - $5,000.

The September 2023 funding round is now closed

The September 2023 funding round has now closed - Congratulations to all the successful applications.

Check out the application guide before you start your application - this includes an overview of the process and all the information you need in preparation for applications to the next funding round - Opening 1 March 2024.

If you are applying for the first time, we highly recommend touching base, it’s a great idea to chat about your project with us before you put your application together.

This years funding rounds (along with the usual funding allocations) there is extra funding available to support established festivals through a one-off funding boost from Government. This is to support established festivals that celebrate the life experiences, stories, cultures and regional identities of New Zealanders, that continue to be impacted by the effects of COVID-19 in 2023.

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding through CCS your arts project must support at least one of the following: Access and participation, diversity and young people. You can view full details of the criteria here.

To be eligible for funding through the CCS Festival Fund, your festival must have been delivered at least once in the previous five years (this may include digital presentation). Please make sure you include evidence of previous delivery in your application. You can view full details of the criteria here.

Any group, organisation or individual that can meet the grant criteria can apply for funding. However, grants are not for individual gain. The Creative Communities Scheme grants are allocated by an assessment committee made up of members of the community with interest and knowledge of the arts.

If you have a question about your project's eligibility, or would like advice on your draft application before you submit it, Creative Waikato is a great place to start:

Email: hello@creativewaikato.co.nz
Phone: 0508 427 892

Alternatively, you can get in touch with us at Gina.Scott@waipadc.govt.nz, with ‘Creative Communities Scheme’ in the subject line and we'll respond as soon as we can, or check out the video below!