Creative Communities Scheme

The Creative Communities Scheme (CCS) is a fund that supports arts activities celebrating Kāpiti culture, community involvement, and our diversity, especially Toi Māori/Māori Arts.

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About the scheme

The fund opens twice a year (early February and June), and closes four weeks later. Funding decisions are made April/May and August/September.

Creative New Zealand is the national agency for developing the arts, supporting participation for all New Zealanders—not just professional artists. One way they fund local arts projects is through the Creative Communities Scheme (CCS).

This scheme is fully funded by Creative New Zealand, not by rates. Under the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa Act 2014, Creative New Zealand allocates funding to organisations, including local councils, to administer these grants. 

We administer applications for CCS locally. The Grants Allocation Committee reviews and approves applications based on criteria set by Creative New Zealand, which also provides the application form and guide.

Find out more and apply: Creative Communities Scheme.

The Creative Communities Scheme application guide [PDF 1.75 MB] gives an overview of the scheme, criteria, and eligibility. Note the criteria have changed to include some hospitality/manaakitanga expenses. The Creative Communities glossary [PDF 303 KB] explains some of the terms used in the guide.

For more information and advice contact our Arts Events Coordinator. We encourage you to ask for advice well before the closing date. 

For more details about this scheme and other funding opportunities, visit Creative New Zealand.

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Funds available

Creative Communities Scheme

There's about $30,000 available for artists and community organisations to support Kāpiti arts and cultural projects. The average grant is usually around $2,000.

Purpose

The Creative Communities Scheme provides funding to encourage involvement in local arts activities.

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​Timeline

• Wednesday 16th July 2025 - Opening of applications for Round 1 Creative Communities Scheme 2025/26 
• 5pm, Monday 11 August - Closing of applications for Round 1 Creative Communities Scheme 2025/26
• Tuesday 16 September - Grants Allocation Subcommittee meet to decide recipients 
• Wednesday 17 September - Earliest starting date for projects 
• Friday 17 October - Grants will be distributed by this date, or on receipt of invoice for GST-registered organisations.

Creative communities scheme project must take place between: 16 September 2025 and 16 September 2026.

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Criteria

Creative Communities Scheme projects and activities should fit one of these three national criteria:

• Participation – the project will create opportunities for our local communities to join and take part in arts activities.
• Diversity – the project will support the different arts and cultural traditions of our 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 take part in the arts.

Funds open to

Individuals or groups can apply for CCS funding. Individuals must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.
If you have already received funding from CCS for a project, you must complete a report on that project before applying again, unless the project is still in progress.

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How to apply

Read the Creative Communities Scheme application guide [PDF 1.75 MB] before starting your application.

Apply using our online form. We prefer online applications, but we’ll accept hard copies. Download the printable Creative Communities Scheme application form to print and complete. 

Application forms

• Creative Communities Scheme online application form
• Creative Communities Scheme printable application form [PDF 353 KB].

Submitting applications

If you’ve completed a hard copy application, you'll need to deliver or post it to us.

Post to:

Arts Events Coordinator
Kāpiti Coast District Council
Private Bag 60601
Paraparaumu 5254

or deliver to:

Arts Events Coordinator
Kāpiti Coast District Council
175 Rimu Road

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Notifying successful applicants

We will notify all applicants if they are successful by phone within the next few days  after the Grants Allocation Subcommittee meeting and follow up with formal notification by email within the next two weeks.

Grants will be paid out in the next 20 working days, or once we receive your invoice if you are GST registered.

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Project completion report form

If you receive funding, you must fill out a project completion report. Make sure to complete all sections.

To submit your report, use the correct form based on when you received funding:

• If you received funding before Round 1 2022, complete the Project Completion Report Form [DOCX 126 KB]
• If you received funding in Round 1 2022 or later, complete the online project completion report form. You'll need to sign in with your email address and password.

If you want to apply for grants and have received funding before, you must submit a project completion report for your previous grant to be eligible.

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Recipients 2024/25 - round two

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Ms Bryony Rogers: Creative Writing Gathering - $1,600

A Weekly Creative Writing group – the group will support a number of people from Kāpiti to explore their creativity, develop technical writing skills and to gain confidence in their expressing themselves and their writing ability.

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Kapiti Women's Health Collective Inc: 'Have a Go' Arts Programme - $1,657

The 'Have a Go' arts programme is a series of courses and workshops offered throughout the year, designed to provide opportunities for all women to enjoy new experiences by exploring their creativity and artistic ability using a range of mediums.

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Music Festivals and Events NZ Board: SpringFest '25 Jazz in the Gardens $2,700

A free, Live, Spring Music Event in Raumati at the Marine Gardens. A day of live music with many bands/artists performing to their community with an emphasis on Jazz genre. A community music celebration of the arrival of Spring.

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Coast Access Radio: Focus on Arts Programme - $2,600

An audio arts programme where we provide artists, musicians, poets, creatives, galleries, exhibitions etc, interviews of 30 mins recorded time to talk about their project. We broadcast this on air and then podcast the episodes to Access Media and Spotify for the artist to share to further promote their art or project.

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Wonderlight Theatre Aotearoa: The Home Inside comes to Kapiti – $1,600

A new theatre work for children aged 4-8 years, that follows young Winifred on a journey of self-discovery and emotional resilience.

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‍WIDance: Kapiti Inclusive dance classes - $1,650

Evening inclusive dance classes for people with disabilities in the Kapiti region.

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In Other Words, Ōtaki Manatopu: In Other Words - $1,500

A 10-day pilot residency in five donated beach baches for five professional Aotearoa storytellers selected by an independent external panel following a nationwide callout. Storytellers interact with the community in two ways: informally during their stay and formally in curated events, one open to the wider public.

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Kāpiti Coast Photographic Society: Kāpiti in Focus - $1,850

An exhibition showcasing the work of members of the Kāpiti Coast Photographic Society, featuring themed sections that celebrate the diversity of Kāpiti’s people, places, and natural environment. The exhibition will also highlight places of community interest, reinforcing its strong local and community-based approach.

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Miss Cloe Willetts: EQ Storytelling Children’s Creative and Life Writing Workshop - $3,211

A creative and life writing workshop for Kāpiti youth, aged 8-11. To teach, encourage, and strengthens the writing of students who show potential in creative literacy, while encouraging emotional expression. A book project will be the end goal, with steps taken to extend the teaching of creative literacy out into the community via the Kāpiti Coast’s 17 primary schools.

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Mostly Music: Mostly Music Live Music Series - $2,500

A vibrant six-part music event series celebrating the diversity of music. Each event will spotlight a different genre and venue across Kāpiti, bringing together talented artists and music lovers from all walks of life.

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Studio Benega Ltd: Adhesive Vinyl Mosaic Art Workshop - $1,000

A free creative class for children from 10+ and adults. ‍ Students will learn how to use adhesive vinyl in a fun and ‍creative way, to understand how to make colour choices, different kinds of typography and compositional skill. ‍By the end of class, students will have made a colourful ‍creation to hang on their walls.

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Ms Hester Paul: Dementia Friendly Art Class - $2,000

Weekly dementia friendly art/craft classes for people living in the community with early dementia. To be hosted at Toi Mahara Gallery.

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Betsy & Mana Productions: HINA - $1,750

To deliver a weaving workshop and public artist talk - components of a brand-new work in four parts: digital dance installation, performance, weaving workshop and kōrerorero. Inspired by local wetland restoration project Te Hakari at Kuku, HINA weaves together dance and video design with mātauranga Māori and environmental science to share the enduring connection between land and women, and the importance of being kaitiaki of our environment.

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Miss Lily-Jean Redgrave: The Paekākāriki Potluck and Arts Exchange - $1,200

A weekly community potluck that fosters connection, creativity, and cultural exchange. Each gathering will feature a shared meal followed by a session of artistic sharing (i.e., performance, workshop, or discussion). This initiative will strengthen community bonds, encourage local artists, and provide an inclusive space for engagement.

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The Shed Project Kapiti Ltd: Creative Space Pottery Programme - $2,000

Pottery classes and community exhibitions for differently abled Kāpiti residents.

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Kapiti BMX Club: Mural for the shed at the Kapiti BMX Club - $1,700

To work with local artist, to create an artwork for the Kapiti BMX Club track in the Te Atiawa reserve at Paraparaumu beach. Artwork will be on the shed that the club use for running events at the park. The artwork will be a vibrant addition to a corner of the park for the public who also use the space.

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Recipients 2024/25 - round one

Kapiti Women's Health Collective Inc: Have a Go Arts Programme – $1,453.64

A series of courses and workshops offered throughout the year designed to provide opportunities for all women to enjoy new experiences by exploring their creativity and artistic ability using a range of mediums.

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Ōtaki Pottery Club: Have a go – $1,000

As part of the highly popular Festival of Pots and Garden Art at Anam Cara in Ōtaki, a free ‘Have A Go’ programme' with artist talks, public clay demonstrations, and providing hands-on clay experiences for children and adults.

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Handstand Productions: Supping with the Devil – $2,439.25

A solo play and study of the life of Leni Riefenstahl, one of the greatest film makers of the twentieth century, whose film making career was distorted and ultimately destroyed by her friendship with Adolph Hitler and choosing fame and power over her moral compass. 

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Mulled Wine Concerts: Mulled Wine Concerts in Paekākāriki – $1,000

Two concerts in Paekākāriki by high level experienced musicians, Bridget Douglas Flute Quartet, and Rodger Fox Jazz Ensemble with Ema Ferry.

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Anja Wilhelmer: Breathe and Draw – $3,500

A series of workshops specifically designed for people with disabilities mental and/or physical, to encourage people to be creative in a fun and supportive environment and connect people from diverse backgrounds and learn new skills.

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Debbie Donnelly: Japan Kāpiti NZ natural tie dye workshops – $3,000

Guest artist Yukihito Kanai from Amami Oshima, Japan and Kapiti based Textile artist and curator Deb Donnelly will share practices with Kapiti coast community to learn mud dyeing and indigo dyeing skills to complement the exhibition early in 2025 at Toi Mahara. 

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Ingrid Prosser: Kāpiti Poets – $2,000

Creation and development of a programme, in collaboration with Coast Access Radio, that promotes Kapiti Coast poets as well as poetry in general, to enhance others' experience and understanding of poetry as an art medium. The programme will bring this form of literature to the mainstream, through the medium of podcast/radio broadcast.

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The Shed Project: Creative Space Xmas performance 2024 – $2,495

Dance, music, Zumba, Art and Drama groups At the Creative Space will showcase their hard work all year learning and developing a mixture of performing and static arts to in our Christmas 2024 public showcase.

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Ōtaki Promotions Group: Ōtaki Kite Festival workshops – $2,700

Kite-making workshops for the community, for schools and, during the Ōtaki Kite Festival to members of the public. Everyone will be encouraged to attend the kite festival to fly their kite.

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Kāpiti Music Centre: Open day and concert – $2,500

Annual end of year concert to whānau and friends. ‍We also open up this event to the Kāpiti district as an Open Day. This is to show 
‍our wider community what the KMC can provide with our affordable and fun music lessons ‍for all. 

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Bryony Rogers: Creative Writing gatherings – $2,222.86

Led by‍ a published, award-winning writer this new Weekly Creative Writing group is open to a wide-ranging selection of participants supporting Kapiti writers to explore their creativity and to gain confidence in their expression and writing ability. 

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Orpheus Choir Wellington: Colossal Chorale – $1,000

A concert of beloved and exciting choral favourites, presented by the premium symphonic choir (the biggest in the country), on tour in the Wellington region. 

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Kāpiti Art Studio: Recycled paper clay workshop – $2,300

Making paper clay from recycled paper and clothes to build 3D sculptures with and display at the Kāpiti Coast Art Trail at Big Mac Creative Centre.

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Keryn Mells: Exploring art and nature through creative writing – $1,975

A children’s creative writing class for Years 5–8 (9-to-13-year-old young people) at Toi Mahara during the October 2024 school holidays. 

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