Ōtorohanga District Creative Communities Fund
Applications for this round are NOW CLOSED.
The most recent grants round was deliberated in October 2024, where $12,654 was allocated by the Grants Committee towards eight successful arts projects.
The next round will open for applications across February 2025 where $8,332 will be available for creative applicants.
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Make, create, show, share, celebrate, learn!
- The Creative Communities Fund (CCS Fund) helps make our district a vibrant place to live.
- It is a rolling fund for creative projects available to craftspeople, artists, musicians, dancers, actors, writers, community groups, non-profits, and organisations.
- It has total annual budget of $21,150 which is spread across 2 ‘rounds’ (held every 6-months).
Application Process
This rolling fund will be allocated at a meeting at Council Chambers (17 Maniapoto St) on 30 April 2025.
Applicants will be informed of decisions the following week and any funding would reach you late May 2025 so your project cant start before then. Remember this is a rolling fund, if you miss this round just apply for the next one in six months time. The next two upcoming rounds for your applications are open across February 2025 and then across August 2025
If you are successful you are required to complete a CCS Grant Accountability Form. This tells us all about your project and how it went. It’s a good idea to get it done as soon as you finish.
Top Tips
- You'll be asked to register for Connecting Ōtorohanga (you won't be asked again and can use the same login to apply for other grants and participate in our public consultations and engagements).
- Download the supporting documents in the sidebar of this webpage, and have a look at the timeline.
- Creating a Connecting Ōtorohanga account doesn't allow you to save your application and return to it another time, so make sure you have downloaded the 'Preparation Sheet' document on this page and use that to work on your draft answers offline first.
- When you're happy with your answers, log in to your account on this platform and copy and paste everything across into the full online application. You access the online application here.
What you need to know
Applications are encouraged from community groups and individuals whose projects:
- Demonstrate growth over time
- Develop and support local artistic communities
- Encourage a transfer or artistic skills.
- Diversity, inclusion, and projects with a youth focus are also encouraged.
- Don't start before May 2025
Who can apply
- Individuals or groups can apply
- Individuals must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents
Eligibility
To be eligible for the CCS Fund, your project must:
- Take place within Ōtorohanga District
- Be completed within 12 months of funding being approved
- Produce benefits which are largely experienced within the Ōtorohanga District
- Not have started or finished before CCS funding is approved
- Not have already been funded through Creative New Zealand’s other arts funding programmes.
- Start after May 2025
Important points to remember
Before you prepare your application you should read the Creative Communities Scheme Application Guide. This guide tells you:
- Whether you are able to apply
- Which projects and costs are eligible and ineligible
- What information you will need to include in your application
- There is no maximum limit but most applications are between $2,000 - $5,000.
All applications must be
- Made online
- Complete with all necessary documents attached
- Submitted before the closing date/time.
- Include bank account details for the applicant / organisation. Please double check this is current, and all the numbers are correct.
Please note: Incomplete or late applications may be deemed ineligible and therefore may not be considered for funding.
Examples of projects that get funded
Projects that get funded do at least one of the following:
- Encourage participation — they create opportunities for local communities to engage with, and participate in local arts activities
- Support diversity — they support the diverse artistic cultural traditions of local communities
- Enable young people — they enable young people (under 18 years) to engage with and participate in the arts.
Projects that encourage participation are things like;
- Performances by community choirs, hip-hop groups, theatre companies musicians or poets
- Workshops on printmaking, writing or dancing.
- Creation of new tukutuku, whakairo or kowhaiwhai for a local marae
- Exhibitions by local craft groups promoting weaving, pottery and carving.
- Arts festivals featuring local artists, musicians.
Projects that support diversity are things like;
- Festivals or exhibitions in Māori or Pasifika heritage or contemporary artforms
- Workshops, rehearsals, performances, festivals or exhibitions by local migrant communities
- Arts projects bringing together groups from a range of different communities
- Workshops, rehearsals, performances, festivals or exhibitions by groups with experience of disability or mental illness
Projects that enable young people to engage with, and participate in, the arts are things like;
- A group of young people working with an artist to create a mural or street art
- A group of young people creating a film about an issue that is important to them
- Printing a collection of writing by young people
- Music workshops for young people
- An exhibition of visual artwork by young people
What kind of costs are funded?
- Materials for arts activities or programmes
- Venue or equipment hire
- Personnel and administrative costs for short-term projects
- Promotion and publicity of arts activities.
- Yes, you can apply for two rounds in a row- go for it!
What types of projects are not funded?
- Fundraising activities
- Developing galleries, marae, theatres or other infrastructure for venues or facilities
- Projects which are mainly focused around other areas, eg sport, 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. You must prove that the project falls outside of normal arts curriculum.
- Projects without a clear start and finish date (ie; running costs)
What kind of costs are not funded?
- Ongoing administration or personnel costs that are not related to the specific project.
- Costs for projects already started or already completed.
- Travel costs to attend performances or exhibitions in other areas.
- Food or refreshment costs
- Buying equipment, such as computers, cameras, musical instruments, costumes, lights or uniforms
- Entry fees for competitions, contests and exams
- Prize money, awards and judges’ fees for competitions
- Royalties
- Buying artworks for collections
- Debt or interest on debt.
Who was successful?
Since 2021, Ōtorohanga District Council has granted approximately $90,145.22 from Creative NZ to help our people! Over twenty six artists and creative groups have been successful and have used these funds to develop their aspirations and share their creative vision.
the most recent - Round 1, 2024-2025
Anita Schurmann, Anna Crichton, Turitea Marae, Julia Iti Predergast, He Tauawhi ki te Koniahi, Toi Maori o Tokopiko, Ōtorohanga Museum, Kathleen Cerderman.
Round 2, 2023-2024
Rebecca Dowman Ngapo, Encore, Te Puti Uku Collective, Apakura Rangatahi ki Kahotea Marae, Te Rōpū Manaaki Aroha Inc.
Round 1, 2023-2024
Nimbus Media, Kawhia School, Ōtorohanga Creative Conduit/Ōtorohanga District Development Board, Mike Brown, Adam Te Kahara Wright.
Round 2, 2022-2023
Korakonui School, Janaya Waitere, Martha Ash/Encore, Carole Shepheard, Anna Crichton, Rebecca Ngapo.
Round 1, 2022-2023
John Andrew Thomson, Every Body is a Treasure Trust, Heather Clare Leonard, Move your Tinana Kawhia Festival.
Round 2, 2021-2022
Nga Roopu o Matariki ki Otorohanga, Nehenehenui Regional Management Committee, Korakonui School, Encore, Carole Shepheard
Round 1, 2021-2022
Kaiewe Branch - Māori Women’s Welfare League, Glenys Carol George.
Want more CREATIVE support?
If you are looking for advice, training, or support with your creative practice, do check out Creative Waikato. It is a non-profit organisation that works to develop, support and champion Waikato arts and culture. Sign up to their newsletter and have a read of their Waikato Arts Navigator, it is a framework used to enhance the role of arts, culture and creativity in the region.
About this funding
The CCS Fund is supplied by Creative NZ and administered by the Ōtorohanga District Council. Members of the public are nominated to be on the decision panel (The Creative Communities Committee) and are joined by elected members and iwi representation.
Questions?
If you have any questions about your application or need to talk about your idea, please email grants@otodc.govt.nz
Application form below
