Creative Communities Scheme (CCS) helps to fund local arts activities. Gisborne District Council distributes the funding in Tairāwhiti and we have 2 funding rounds each year. There is $42k annually and most CCS grants are under $2k.
Can I get funding for my project?
Yes, if it creates opportunities for local communities to engage with and participate in local arts activities such as:
- performances - community choirs, dance groups, theatre companies, musicians, poets etc
- workshops - such as printmaking, writing, dancing
- exhibitions by local craft groups promoting weaving, pottery, carving etc
- festivals featuring local artists
- creation of community film or a public artwork by a community
- artists residencies involving local artists or communities
- seminars for local artist development
- creation of new tukutuku, whakairo or kowhaiwhai for a local marae
Your project must also
- take place within Tairāwhiti
- 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 NZ's other arts funding programmes.
- 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
- projects without an arts focus eg: puzzles, upholstery, magic, model-making, commercial design, commercial fashion design, film festivals, fitness-based dance (such as aerobics or gymnastics or martial arts (such as tai chi or karate)
- 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 that only have a small arts component.
- local council projects
- fundraising activities
- ongoing administration costs not related to a specific project
- developing or restoring facilities eg: galleries, marae*, theatres, and other venues, including the costs of fixed items and furnishings
- entry fees, prize money, awards, royalties, loan repayment and buying equipment
*Applications for funding for marae facilities or restoration projects should be made to the Oranga Marae fund which is administered by Te Puni Kōkiri and the Department of Internal Affairs.
The successful projects from the last 2 rounds:
- Whenua to Fire – pottery group workshops
- Diwali Festival of Lights – indian dance festival
- Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary – celebration of a cult classic
- He Timatanga Hou Gathering – workshops teaching weaving with flax
- Love Your Blood exhibition – paintings and mixed media animations
- Festival of the Arts 2025 - multi-disciplinary arts for young people
- Elevating Music Video – creating a video for a music single
- He Aha Turanga – producing a locals news show on social media
- Smash Summer Sesh – gig including local and national acts
- Secondary Schools Orchestra Intensive – workshop using experience tutors
- Māmā Maker – creative workshop for mothers
- Affordable Art Exhibition – for local artists to present and sell
- Te Hapara School Residency – arts facilitators teaching Year 6 children over 3 days
- Big Blues Warm Up – celebration concert
- Rangatahi/Youth Gig – gig to showcase youth music talent
- Whiti - Te Turanganui a Kiwa 10th Indigenous Arts Gathering – international exhibition
- Rautīonge – wānanga focused on development and application of peha Wahine
- State Highway 35 Residency – music and drama for year 11-13 students at Ngata College
- SHREK The Musical – theatre show
- Light & Colour-Stained Glass Workshops – teaching workshop series
- Smokefreerockquest & Smokefree Tangata beats tairawhiti 2026 –for high school musicians
- Shepherdess - 16mm artist film about female shearers on the East Coast
- Unheard Corridors – sound art exhibition and online series
- The Personal Billboard Project – community fabric printing workshop
- 2026 Five Films for Freedom – international short film festival showing
- Whakakai! Adornment – workshop series for contemporary jewellery and wearable art
- A Resident Big Band for Gisborne –pPhase 2 increase rehearsal, visibility and access
- Nga Mata-a-Nga Ariki Kaiputahi Celebrations – community wānanga for 2 days
- Raranga Harakeke – teaching and creating flax art
Application form and closing dates
Funding applications close on the last Friday of February and August.
For more information, visit Creative Communities Scheme (CCS) website
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