Kāpiti projects get over $20k Creative NZ funding

Fourteen creative Kāpiti groups and individuals benefitted from the first 2019 round of Creative Communities Scheme grants for community arts projects.

Just over $22,200 was awarded by Kāpiti Coast District Council’s Grants Allocation Committee on the recommendations of the Council’s Creative Communities Committee, which includes community, iwi, and youth representatives.

Cr Mark Benton, Chair of the Grants Allocation Committee, says the Committee continues to be impressed with the high quality of applications for the funds.

“It’s been another tough process to select from so many worthwhile projects from our creative communities but it’s great to see the range of arts projects put forward for funding continue to grow,” he says.

“It’s been pleasing to see more arts groups working to get their organisations on a more sustainable footing and be able to present regular projects to audiences.”

There were also more applications for projects with a focus on Ngā Toi Māori (Māori arts) in this round in this round, he said.

“Kāpiti residents can look forward to events that had great responses last year, like the Kāpiti Music Festival and Toro Piko Piko puppet shows, as well as exciting new projects like Island Sway Pasifika dance classes and the Intergenerational Women’s Whakapapa Quilting workshop and exhibition at Māoriland Hub,” Cr Benton says.

There will be a second grant process later in 2019 with applications closing on 18 July. More information on the grant criteria and how to apply is on the Council’s website.

The successful grant applicants and their projects for this round of the 2017/2018 financial year are:

• Aotearoa Kinesthetic Educational Entertainment Toro Piko Piko for rock-art puppet show Te Rereka – The Flight 2019 Kapiti Coast Tour and rock-art puppetry workshops in schools in Kāpiti.
• Māoriland Charitable Trust for Tai ki Uta – 60 stories from 60 children. A creation of a public artwork at Māoriland Hub, Ōtaki.
• Island Custom for Island Sway, Pasifika dance classes for the community, in Paraparaumu.
• Maungarongo Te Kawa for Intergenerational Māori women workshops and Whakapapa quilt exhibition at Māoriland Hub, Ōtaki.
• Erola Whitcombe/Mukume Taiko for a taiko drumming masterclass by visiting Japanese Master Gene Maehara, in Raumati.
• Shona Jaunas for developing a community musical theatre production, Small Town, in Ōtaki and Paekākāriki.
• The Mahara Gallery Trust for Frances Hodgkins, from Dunedin to Waikanae, a public programme at Mahara Gallery in Waikanae to celebrate the 150th anniversary of this major Kāpiti artist.
• The Kapiti Youth Orchestra for their 2019 rehearsal programme and combined workshop with Wellington Youth Sinfonietta.
• The Little Dog Barking Theatre Ltd for the puppet theatre production The Pond, to tour Kāpiti Coast early childhood centres and schools.
• Te Ara Korowai Wellbeing Centre for creativity workshops at the Hope Café in Otaki.
• The Kāpiti Music Festival 2019 $3,310 for the free community event Jazz in the Garden in Raumati.