Make your project a reality with Creative Communities Scheme funding
Published on 02 September 2020
Applications are now open for the Creative Communities Scheme, which funds local arts projects that benefit the community.
The Creative Communities Scheme is a partnership between Whanganui District Council and Creative New Zealand, administered by Whanganui & Partners.
Whanganui & Partners’ Community Arts Coordinator, Anique Jayasinghe, says funding is allocated to projects which make a difference to the community by either encouraging youth participation in the arts, giving locals the chance to engage with arts activities or showcasing artistic cultural traditions.
“Your project may involve ceramics, literature, Pacific arts, visual arts, craft, object art, dance, ngā toi Māori, theatre for the community, or something else,” Anique Jayasinghe says.
Anique Jayasinghe says in the past funding has been given out to a diverse range of projects, including embroidered street art, kids’ animation workshops and even a pro wrestling performance.
“We’ve had some great success stories, including the Rānana Māori Committee’s Te Hanga Hīnaki project which is currently underway.
“This exciting project teaches young people associated with the Ngāti Ruaka, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Rangi hapū and Rānana Marae how to weave a hīnaki (eel trap) using traditional and contemporary materials.”
Artist and weaving expert Matthew McIntyre-Wilson, who is the Sarjeant Gallery’s Tylee Cottage artist in residence, ran the first residential workshop this month, taking the young people into the forest to harvest traditional weaving materials including supplejack, rata and kiekie vines.
From here they will learn the weaving process and use the hīnaki to fish for eels at night, capturing the process with written and audio-visual recordings.
After the workshops the participants will present what they have learned and the hīnaki will be on display at Rānana Marae for the wider hapū and community to view.
Matthew McIntyre-Wilson says he is really pleased to have been invited to be part of the project, “working with this great bunch of young people who will be future leaders in Whanganui.”
He says through the project “the young people will experience an aspect of the fishing methods of their ancestors.
“It’s a privilege to be part of the revival of the knowledge and techniques.”
Applications must be for projects which have not yet started and will be completed within 12 months of receiving funding. There are two funding rounds a year – this round is for projects that will take place between 1 November 2020 and 1 November 2021.
To talk through a project idea and check eligibility, contact Anique by phoning 06 349 3086 or emailing anique.jayasinghe@whanganuiandpartners.nz
You are also welcome to drop in to one of Whanganui & Partners’ general arts funding sessions to discuss Creative Communities Scheme funding with Anique:
- Thursday, 3 September from 2:00pm-5:00pm at Gonville Library, 44 Abbott Street
- Saturday, 5 September from 11:00am-1:00pm at Whanganui Arts @ Centre, 19 Taupo Quay.
Applications must be made on the official form which can be downloaded from the Whanganui & Partners website (https://www.whanganuiandpartners.nz/resources/creative-communities) or picked up in hard copy form from the Whanganui & Partners front desk at 179 St Hill Street.
The deadline for applications is 12 noon on Thursday, 1 October 2020.