CCS helps to fund local arts projects. Each year Creative New Zealand provides funding to city and district councils to distribute in their area. The scheme supports more than 1,800 projects every year. Applications are made directly to your local council and closing dates vary.
Overview
Amount
Mostly under $2,000
Artforms
On this page:
Can I get funding for my project
To get funding through CCS your arts project must do at least one of the following:
Participation
Create opportunities for local communities to engage with, and participate in local arts activities, for example:
- 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
- Festivals featuring local artists
- Creation of a community film or a public artwork by a community/li>
- Artist residencies involving local artists or communities
- Seminars for local artist development
Diversity
Support the diverse artistic cultural traditions of local communities, for example:
- Workshops, rehearsals, performances, festivals or exhibitions in Māori or Pasifika heritage or contemporary art forms/li>
- 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, for example:
- 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 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 CCS funding is approved
- Not have already been funded through Creative New Zealand’s other arts funding opportunities
Who can apply
You can be an individual or a group. Individuals must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.
If you have already received CCS funding 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?
- Materials for arts activities or programmes
- Venue or equipment hire
- Personnel and administrative costs for short-term projects
- Promotion and publicity of arts activities
How much can I apply for?
There is no limit to how much you can apply for, but most CCS grants are under $2,000.
Look at previously funded projects on your council website to get an idea of what sort of projects have been supported in the past and the average amount granted.
How often can I apply and how are decisions made?
Local councils have up to four application rounds per year. Your application will go to an assessment committee of people from your area. They are appointed for their knowledge and experience of the arts and local communities.
What types of projects can’t get CCS funding?
- Fundraising activities
- Developing galleries, marae, theatres or other venues or facilities
- Local council projects
- Projects that are mainly focused on other areas e.g. 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
What costs cannot be funded?
- 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
Next steps
Search 'Creative Communities Scheme' on your council website for:
- An application form
- An application guide
- Closing dates
A full list of Creative Communities Scheme Council websites can be found here:
Creative Communities Scheme council website list (pdf 86KB)
You can also call your local council and ask to speak to the Creative Communities Scheme manager for advice on how to apply.
Check your Territorial local authority boundaries (pdf 337KB)
If your project receives CCS funding, you must acknowledge the assistance of the scheme on any promotional material, using the CCS logo. This CCS logo can be found on our website
CCS Administrators
If you are a CCS manager, or would like a Creative Communities managers list please contact ccsadmin@creativenz.govt.nz or (09) 373 3066.
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