Hastings District Creative Communities Scheme

Applications are now open!

There are two funding rounds per year, with decisions made around two weeks after each of the two application closing dates.

Round 1 for projects starting after 1 April 2023
Applications closed on Friday 3 March 2023

Round 2 for projects starting after 1 October 2023
Applications are open from 4 August - Friday 25 August 2023

All applications must be submitted via the online grants portal.

Information and forms

Documents that will assist you in the preparation of your application include:

• Creative NZ's Funding for Local Arts
• Creative NZ's glossary of terms
• Creative NZ's Application Guide

Who can apply?

You can apply for a Creative Communities grant if your project meets all of the following requirements:

• Has an arts or cultural focus
• Takes place within Hastings and/or benefits the district
• Meets at least one of the three funding criteria (listed below)
• Benefits local communities
• Has not started before the application for funding is assessed
• Has not been funded by Creative New Zealand for the same purpose.

Criteria

Creative New Zealand has three funding criteria for this scheme. They are:

• Broad community involvement
  The project will create opportunities for local communities to engage with and participate in arts activities
• Diversity
  The project will support the diverse arts and cultural traditions of local communities, enriching and promoting their uniqueness and cultural diversity
• Young people
  The project will enable and encourage young people (under 18 years) to engage with and actively participate in the arts.

Activities that will not be funded

• Facility development i.e. the cost of buildings or items necessary to make a facility functional such as plumbing, floor coverings, furnishings, white ware or equipment
• The purchase of art works for galleries or communities
• Ongoing administration costs that are not directly related to a specific project
• Projects already started before the committee's decision date
• Projects that have already received Creative New Zealand funding
• Elimination of accumulated deficit or debt servicing
• Fundraising costs
• Applications from groups which have not returned accountability forms after previous funding
• Arts activities provided by education institutions which would normally funded through their curriculum and operating budgets.

Types of activities which may be funded

• Exhibitions, installation and performances
• Arts-related promotional activities
• Materials for an arts event or activity
• Seminars or workshops for local artists and arts groups
• Costs associated with artist in residence schemes
• Events or festivals
• Personnel costs for one-off, short-term projects
• Dance that has an arts and culture focus, for example, ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary dance, taiaha, highland dancing, cultural dance, rock 'n roll. (Dance that focuses on fitness, for example aerobics and line dancing, is considered a sport)
• School-based projects that are outside of the school's normal activities and provide opportunities for community participation or provide benefits for the wider community

• Food for artists, participants, and audiences when connected to manaakitanga (the expression of aroha, hospitality, generosity and mutual respect).

Assessing your application

Council's assessment committee meets two weeks after the round's closing date. Decisions are notified by mail within seven working days of the committee meeting.

The Hastings committee assesses the applications on the Creative Communities criteria above, plus the following:

• The quality of the project
• The artistic merit
• The impact on the local arts community
• Your ability to make it happen
• That good project planning and budgeting are evident
• The level of financial need
• That the application is not for business-as-usual or ongoing operational expenses
• The financial risk if a project cannot be fully funded
• Response to Toi-tu, HB Arts.

How much can I apply for?

Because demand is always high, the average grant awarded is usually less than $2000.

For more information please email the Community Grants Advisor.

You are also able to apply to the Napier Creative Communities Scheme for your event/project, providing it involves both Hastings and Napier residents and you are request funding for different components of the project. Please complete the appropriate application forms if apply to both councils.

If you need to apply for more than $8000 you should consider discussing your project with Creative New Zealand to see if it qualifies for national funding. See: Creative New Zealand or email info@creativenz.govt.nz.

Contact

If you have any questions about the Creative Communities scheme please contact the Community Grants Advisor.

Previous Creative Communities Grant Recipients