The Creative Communities Scheme is a partnership between Whanganui District Council and Creative New Zealand to promote local arts projects.
Flowers for Palestine
Flowers for Palestine collaborative embroidery project organised by Renata Szarvas
Shakespeare in the Park
Merchant of Venice cast standing on set at the Bason Botanic Gardens
River City Filipino Club 2023 cultural performance
Everybody is a Treasure Trust
Photography workshop at the library
Application dates
Open: Monday, 9 February 2026
Close: Friday, 13 March 2026
For projects that take place between 6 April 2026 to 6 April 2027
Application process
Crafting your project
When project planning, we recommend reading the Creative Communities application guide(PDF, 2MB). It contains helpful information that is important to consider such as eligibility criteria and details to include in your application. Download a low ink/printer-friendly version of the guide here(PDF, 156KB)
It is preferred you discuss your project plans with the community activator before submitting your application. They can answer any questions you may have, as well as offer advice on how to best frame your ideas on paper, and what additional supporting material is required.
Information is also available in a range of languages below.
- Chinese Traditional(PDF, 1MB)
- English(PDF, 1MB)
- Fijian(PDF, 976KB)
- Hindi(PDF, 1021KB)
- Korean(PDF, 1MB)
- Te Reo Māori(PDF, 962KB)
- Niuean(PDF, 976KB)
- Samoan(PDF, 993KB)
- Tokelauan(PDF, 978KB)
- Tongan(PDF, 1MB)
- Tuvaluan(PDF, 975KB)
How to apply
An application form will be available a month out from the funding round opening.
Email the completed form to our community activator
Or post to
Attn: Creative Community Advisor
Whanganui District Council, PO Box 637, Whanganui 4541
You can also complete your application online – start, save, and submit your application form and supporting material online here
For further information on this fund, email the community activator
Recent grant recipients
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Aaron Potaka
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$1000 for Printmaking and Common Unity
To use lino and woodcut printmaking processes in afternoon and evening wānanga workshops to strengthen the arts and culture in the whānau and communities of Whanganui.
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Bryony Matthews
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$1127.40 for Brain Storm: A Musical Journey Through Head Injury Recovery
A live music and storytelling show exploring brain injury recovery.
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Chantelle Cobby
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$264.50 for In Our Twenties
Online creative writing workshops and 1:1 mentoring for a Whanganui-based wāhine as part of a nationwide women’s creative development, storytelling, and empowerment project.
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Girls Rock Aotearoa
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$1500 for To The Front Adult Rock Camp
A programme which uses music as a medium to develop skills, build confidence and increase well-being. The camp includes instrument lessons and workshops on performance confidence, songwriting and more.
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Jack It Up Event Management
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$724.58 for Grit, Glam and Glory - A showcase of Taranaki Wāhine
Live concert by Taranaki singer-songwriters Betsy Raines, Celine Filbee and Karen Clarke at St Laurence’s Chapel as the finale of the 2026 La Fiesta Women’s Festival, celebrating International Women’s Day.
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Ken Chernoff
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$1424.45 for Whanganui Celebrates International Jazz Day.
This is Whanganui's annual celebration of International Jazz Day (since 2018), highlighting Jazz music's contribution to world culture through education and communication.
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Lotus Indian Group
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$1277.53 for Diwali Festival of Light Celebration 2025
An international festival featuring local performances and dances, primarily showcasing homegrown talent to local audiences.
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| Mikaere Gardiner |
$2500 for Ngā rangatahi toi o Whanganui
Mentorship of high school and tertiary level young people through a series of workshops and hands-on experience in painting large-scale murals.
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| Ngā Tai o Te Awa |
$731.11 for Threads of Connection
A community quilt exhibition featuring completed works from Whakaritia O Mātauranga Māori. It celebrates storytelling, sustainability, and cultural identity through quilting, while highlighting intergenerational ties and the creative use of recycled textiles.
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| River City Filipino Club |
$1831 for Cultural Dance Workshop
Cultural program engaging youth aged 11-18, , teaching traditional Filipino dances, costume-making and cultural heritage.
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| Sustainable Whanganui Trust |
$2785.50 for Creative Kids Workshops
Engaging skilled artists/facilitators to provide a high-quality learning environment to encourage children’s creative expression focused on sustainability by utilising pre-used and found resources.
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| Takitini Hauora Kahui Ako |
$3000 for Kahui Ako Puanga Festival 2026
Organising a Puanga festival for all Whanganui schools and Early Childhood Centres.
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| The Community Led Development Trust |
$2000 for TCLT Whanganui Awa Music Wānanga
Two 2-hour music wānanga in Rānana for upriver communities. Open to all ages, they will teach traditional Māori instruments, waiata, and whakapapa. Recording and filming will capture and preserve cultural knowledge for future generations.
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| Te Puna Hāpai |
$3000 for Rangatira te Tū
Supports rangatahi to engage in a series of toi hangarau matihiko wānanga (digital arts workshops). These wānanga provide Māori cultural awareness specific to the region. Phase one will look at designing a digital art poster aligned to Te Awa Tupua o Whanganui in preparation for exhibition.
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| The Learning Environment |
$1187.84 for Creative Nature Outdoor Holiday Program
An immersive three-day experience for children aged 7 to 12 to explore and express their creativity in a unique natural environment. With a strong focus on outdoor learning and hands-on activities, the programme offers a tailored, nurturing space where children connect with nature through artistic expression, adventure, and environmental stewardship.
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| Whanganui Hispanic Arts Group |
$1200 for the Latin America and Spain Film Festival
An opportunity for the Whanganui community to experience Hispanic film, history, art and food.
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| Whanganui Movement Collective |
$1145.65 for Get Whanganui Grooving
Community dance and movement events facilitated by Ecstatic Dance. Morning dance parties, sober raves, solstice/equinox celebrations, fire dancing workshops and performance, contact improv workshops, dance for mums and bubs.
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| Zesty Moa Productions |
$1174.14 for Young Screenwriters Workshop Whanganui
Five weekly summer workshops for young aspiring screenwriters culminating in a table read of their short film scripts.
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