Fonds pour les communautés créatives du district d'Ōtorohanga

The Ōtorohanga District Creative Communities Fund (CCS Fund) is a rolling grant program administered by Ōtorohanga District Council in partnership with Creative New Zealand. It supports artists, musicians, writers, dancers, performers, community groups and non‑profits who wish to develop and showcase creative projects within the district. The fund offers up to $5,000 per project, with a total annual budget of $21,150 spread across two deliberation rounds held every six months. Projects must be completed within 12 months of funding approval, must not have started before the committee meeting, and must not have been funded through other Creative New Zealand programmes. Eligible applicants include New Zealand citizens or permanent residents, individuals or groups, and projects must take place within Ōtorohanga District. The fund covers materials, venue or equipment hire, personnel and administrative costs, and promotion and publicity. Applications are submitted online via the Engage portal; applicants must register for Connecting Ōtorohanga, download the Preparation Sheet and the Creative Communities Scheme Application Guide, and complete the online application before the closing date. The next deliberation round opens on 16 September 2026, with a closing date of midnight Friday 31 July 2026. Successful applicants receive funding directly to their bank account in October 2026. The fund encourages projects that promote community participation, diversity, and youth engagement, and it explicitly excludes fundraising activities, infrastructure development, and projects that are primarily non‑arts in nature.

Materials for arts activities or programmes, Venue or equipment hire, Personnel and administrative costs for short-term projects, Promotion and publicity of arts activities.

Individuals or groups can apply. Individuals must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. The project must take place within Ōtorohanga District, be completed within 12 months of funding being approved, produce benefits which are largely experienced within the Ōtorohanga District, not have started or finished before CCS funding is approved, and not have already been funded through Creative New Zealand’s other arts funding programme.