Creative Communities and Festival Fund Grants (New Zealand)

The Communities Grants Scheme (CCS) helps to fund local arts projects. Each year Creative New Zealand provides funding to Carterton and other city and district councils to distribute in the area.

The CCS Festival Fund is a one-off funding boost from Government, to support established festivals that celebrate the life experiences, stories, cultures, and regional identities of New Zealand, that continue to be impacted by the effects of COVID-19 in 2023. These funds are intended to help the sector adapt and thrive as they move away from the effects of COVID-19 and to further improve access, equity, and arts participation for all New Zealanders. These funds are also intended to provide opportunities for the development of a resilient and sustainable arts sector.

Funding Information

• There is no limit to how much you can apply for, but most CCS grants tend to be under $2,000.

Eligible Funding

• To be eligible for funding through CCS your arts project must support at least one of the following:
  • Access and participation: Create opportunities for local communities to engage with, and participate in local arts activities, eg:
    • performances by community choirs, hip-hop groups,theatre companies or poets
    • workshops on printmaking, writing, dancing or other creative forms
    • exhibitions by local craft groups promoting weaving, pottery and carving
    • festivals featuring local artists
    • creation of a community film or a public artwork by a community
    • development of new tukutuku, whakairo or kōwhaiwhai for a local marae
    • artist residencies involving local artists or communities
    • seminars for local artist development.
  • Diversity: Support the diverse artistic cultural traditions of local communities, eg:
    • workshops, rehearsals, performances, festivals or exhibitions in Māori or Pasifika heritage art forms
    • 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.
  • Young people: Enable young people (under 18 years) to engage with, and participate in the arts, eg:
    • 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 art work by young people
  • Your project must:
    • take place within the city or district where the application is made
    • be completed within 12 months of funding being approved
    • not have started or finished before CCS funding is approved.

Ineligible Funding

• You cannot apply for CCS funding for:
  • projects without an arts focus, eg puzzles, upholstery, magic, model-making, commercial design, commercial fashion design, film festivals, fitness-based dance
  • projects within the scope of other sectors or organisations, eg arts projects in schools or other educational institutions that are the core business of that institution or are normally funded through curriculum or operating budgets
  • projects that mainly deliver outcomes for other sectors, such as health, heritage or the environment
  • local council projects
  • fundraising activities eg: benefit concerts to raise funds to buy a capital item or to pay for another activity
  • projects to develop facilities, eg galleries, marae, theatres and other venues, including the costs of fixed items, whiteware, floor coverings, furnishings, gallery and theatre lights, stage curtains or building restoration.
  • costs for projects already started or completed
  • travel costs to attend performances or exhibitions in other areas
  • 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
  • the purchase of artworks for collections
  • the costs of running fundraising activity
  • debt or interest on debt.

Who can apply?

• Individuals or groups can apply for CCS funding.
• Individuals must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.
• If you have already received funding from CCS for a project, you must complete a report on that project before making another application, unless the project is still in progress.

For more information, visit Carterton District Council.