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.

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.

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.

​Timeline

• Wednesday 26 February 2025 – Opening of applications for Round 2 Creative Communities Scheme 2024/25
• 5pm, Wednesday 26 March – Closing of applications for Round 2 Creative Communities Scheme 2024/25
• Tuesday 6 May – Grants Allocation Subcommittee meets to decide recipients
• Wednesday 7 May – Earliest starting date for projects 
• Friday 23 May – Grants will be distributed by this date, or on receipt of invoice for GST-registered organisations.

Creative communities scheme project must take place between: 6 May 2025 and 6 May 2026.

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.

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 352 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

Notifying successful applicants

We will call successful applicants as soon as possible after the Grants Allocation Subcommittee meeting (usually the next day). We will also send a formal notification by email within the next week.

Grants will be paid within 16 working days or after we receive your invoice if you are GST registered.

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.

Recipients 2024/25

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.