Creative Communities Scheme

The first round of the Creative Community Scheme funding round is now closed. 

The Creative Communities Scheme (CCS) is a partnership between Upper Hutt City Council and Creative New Zealand to help fund local arts projects. In 2024/25 there is a total funding pool of $42,455 with another $1,727 carried forward from 2023/24 year.  This money will be distributed over 2 funding rounds as per below:

Application periods and amount available for distribution
       September to October 2024        $22,954 
  April to May 2025    $21,227

 

In the last financial year 2023/24, we supported 24 projects and the average grant amount awarded was $2,000.

Is your project eligible?

To be eligible for funding, your project must:

  • Have an arts or cultural focus
  • Take place with Upper Hutt City boundaries
  • Benefit local communities
  • Not have been funded by Creative New Zealand for the same process.

 

Your project must meet one of the following arts and cultural requirements:

  • Create opportunities local communities to engage with and participate in arts activities
  • Support the diverse arts and cultural traditions of local communities
  • Enable and encourage under-18s to engage with arts

For examples, download Creative Communities Scheme Application Guide here(PDF, 2MB).

 

Have you completed your project completion report for the previous grant?

Your Project Completion Report must be submitted within two months after your project has been completed.  Please note that for you or your group to be eligible for future Creative Communities Scheme funding, we must receive a satisfactory report within the required timeframe. You can submit your Project Completion Report using the button to the right.

 

If you have any queries about the Creative Communities Scheme grant, please email our Funding Administrator at christine.robinson@uhcc.govt.nz

Creative Communities Scheme FAQs
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.




What costs can I get funding for?

You can apply for support for:

  • Materials for arts activities or programmes
  • Venue, costume or equipment hire 
  • Personnel and administrative costs for short-term projects
  • Promotion and publicity of arts activities
  • Reasonable requests for food used during CCS projects in order to provide manaakitanga/hospitality


It is recommended that you look at the previous funding outcomes at the bottom of the webpage to get an idea of some of the costs that have been covered.





What costs cannot be supported?

CCS does not fund:

  • 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
  • the purchase of artworks for collections
  • the costs of running a fundraising activity
  • debt or interest on debt
Can I talk to the Creative Communities Committee about my application?

Yes - a Creative Communities Committee allocation meeting will be held where you can speak with committee members directly, and have the opportunity to answer any questions they may have about your application.

To give everyone a chance to speak, we ask that you arrive on time and keep your presentation to five minutes.


When will I hear if my application has been successful?

The funding allocations decided by the Creative Community Committee will communicated to the applicants within 5 working days of the committee's allocation meeting.

Payment of successful grants will be provided within 20 working days of applicants being notified.




Creative Communities Scheme Application Guide in other languages

The Creative Communities Scheme Application Guide is available in the below languages:

CCS-Funding-for-Local-Arts-Chinese-2022-2023.pdf(PDF, 1MB)

CCS-Funding-for-Local-Arts-Fijian-2022-2023.pdf(PDF, 976KB)

CCS-Funding-for-Local-Arts-Hindi-2022-2023.pdf(PDF, 1021KB)

CCS-Funding-for-Local-Arts-Korean-2022-2023.pdf(PDF, 1MB)

CCS-Funding-for-Local-Arts-Nuiean-2022-2023.pdf(PDF, 976KB)

CCS-Funding-for-Local-Arts-Samoan-2022-2023.pdf(PDF, 993KB)

CCS-Funding-for-Local-Arts-Tokalauan-2022-2023.pdf(PDF, 978KB)

CCS-Funding-for-Local-Arts-Tongan-2022-2023.pdf(PDF, 1MB)

CCS-Funding-for-Local-Arts-Tuvaluan-2022-2023.pdf(PDF, 975KB)

 

 

 

Project Completion Report

Submit now

 

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