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Ngā pūtea hapori auahatanga

Creative Communities funding

Apply for funding

Creative Communities Scheme (CCS) helps to fund local arts activities. Gisborne District Council distributes the funding in Tairāwhiti and we have 2 funding rounds each year. There is $42k annually and most CCS grants are under $2k.

Can I get funding for my project?

Yes if your project creates opportunities for local communities to engage with, and participate in local arts activitites such as:

  • performances - community choirs, dance groups, theatre companies, musicians, poets etc
  • workshops - such as printmaking, writing, dancing
  • exhibitions by local craft groups promoting weaving, pottery, carving etc
  • festivals featuring local artists
  • creation of community film or a public artwork by a community
  • artists residencies involving local artists or communities
  • seminars for local artist development
  • creation of new tukutuku, whakairo or kowhaiwhai for a local marae
Your project must also
  • take place within Tairāwhiti
  • be completed within 12 months of funding being approved
  • benefit local communities
  • not have started or finished before CCS funding is approved
  • not have already been funded through Creative NZ's other arts funding programmes.

  • materials for arts activities or programmes
  • venue or equipment hire
  • personnel and administrative costs for short-term projects
  • promotion and publicity of arts activities

  • Fundraising activities
  • Developing galleries, marae, theatres or other venues or facilities
  • Local council projects
  • Projects which are mainly focused around other areas such as health, education or the environment and that only have a very small arts component
  • Arts projects in schools or other education institutions that are the core business of that institution or that are normally funded through curriculum or operating budgets

Application form and closing dates

Funding applications close on the last Friday of February and August.

For more information on the criteria and eligibility of Creative Communities Funding

Creative communities guidelines