Creative Communities Funding Scheme

The Council holds the contract to administer Arts Council (Creative New Zealand) moneys based on population of the District. Allocation rounds occur twice a year which distribute a total annual allocation of $30,000 to successful applicants.

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'.

Who Can Apply?

An application can be from an individual or from a group. Individual applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.

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 for the earlier project before any further applications from you will be considered.

Can I Get Funding For My Project?

To be eligible for funding, your project must:

• Have an arts or creative cultural focus
• Meet one or more of the three funding criteria (see below)
• Be completed within 12 months after funding is approved
• Benefit local communities
• Take place within the city or district where the application is made, or benefit local communities within that city or district
• Not have started before funding is approved
• Not have already been funded through Creative New Zealand’s contestable funding programme 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 funding 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.

Types of projects or activities that could be funded include:

• Exhibitions, productions, concerts, festivals, workshops and presentations that offer opportunities for community involvement in the arts
• Activities that support the traditions and arts of ethnic communities
• Youth arts events
• Artist-led projects involving local communities
• Materials for arts activities or programmes
• Personnel costs for one-off, short-term projects
• Promotion and publicity of arts activities to communities.

Types of projects or activities that cannot be funded include:

• Activities that are not arts-focused
• Activities that are the direct responsibility of schools or other education institutions
• Ongoing administration costs not related to a specific project
• Projects that are the core business of an organisation or service provider
• Retrospective project costs (for projects already started or completed)
• Catering costs of an event
• Fundraising activities
• Travel for individuals or groups to attend events, presentations or shows
• Developing facilities, such as gallery and theatre lights, stage curtains or building restoration
• Buying capital items, such as computers, cameras, musical instruments, costumes or uniforms.

Groups, organisations and individuals applying to this scheme are encouraged to discuss their application with the administrator, before submitting an application.

The closing date for the next allocation round is Friday 30 March 2012.

NB: Applications must be on the new forms or they won't be eligible for the allocation round, and all accountability for previous funding must be provided prior to new applications being made.

Local Funding Priorities

Priority will be given to applications that:

1. Increase diversity in the arts in our district and
2. Create opportunities for young people (under 18 years) to participate in the arts in our District.

Please note this is now a new priority grouping nationally, for the Creative Communities Scheme.

The local assessment committee is very keen to encourage youth (and their supporters) with new ideas about projects, so we are seeking young people to assist our work. If you are 16-18 years and passionate about the arts, live in the District and want to promote youth involvement across the arts and cultural spectrum, please contact the administrator for a chat.

Contact

Mark O'Connell
Administrator, Creative Communities
Waimakariri District Libraries
Phone: (03) 311 8901
Fax: (03) 313 4650