Creative Communities Scheme

Funding rounds are held twice per year.

Rounds close on 31st March and 31st of August annually.

Council receives an annual allocation from Creative New Zealand to distribute locally.

Applications must be submitted through Council’s online portal.

To be eligible the project must:

• Take place within the Manawatū rating district.
• Be from an individual or group. Individuals must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.
• Have completed an accountability report if the applicant has already received funding for a previous Creative Communities Scheme project.
• Have not already received funding from one of Creative New Zealand’s other funding programmes.

The project must also:

• Take place within the city or district where the application is made.
• Be completed within 12 months of funding being approved.
• Benefit local communities.
• Not have started or finished before Creative Communities Scheme funding is approved
• Not have already been funded through Creative New Zealand’s other arts funding programmes.

Eligibility and exclusions are determined by Creative New Zealand’s national guidelines.

Funding can be given for:

• Materials for arts activities or programmes.
• Venue or equipment hire.
• Personnel and administrative costs for short-term projects.
• Promotion and publicity of arts activities.
• Reasonable requests to provide food for artists, participants, and audiences for community arts activities.

Funding can’t be given for:

• Ongoing administration or personnel costs that are not related to the specific project.
• 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.
• Buying artworks for collections.
• Debt or interest on debt.

Applications will be considered twice a year with the amount given by Creative Communities New Zealand being divided between the two rounds. Applications will be assessed by the Creative Communities Scheme Funding Panel which is made up of two elected members plus community representatives.

Assessments will be made in accordance with the decision-making framework set by Creative New Zealand.

Recipients must:

• Complete the project as described in the application (or request permission in writing from the Creative Communities Scheme Administrator for any significant change to the project).
• Complete the project within a year after the funding is approved.
• Complete and return an accountability form within two months after the project is completed using the reporting template provided via Council’s online application portal.
• Return any unspent funds.
• Keep receipts and a record of all expenditure for seven years.

Council is responsible for collecting and submitting accountability information to Creative New Zealand.