New members for Creative Communities Scheme

The Creative Communities Scheme Assessment Committee met for its final quarterly meeting of 2022 kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face) on Tuesday to welcome new members and disperse CreativeNZ funds for Arts & Culture.

Joining the Creative Communities Scheme (CCS) team are:

• Christine Klingenberg, representing Kaitāia’s Arts Far North. She replaces Lois Stather-Dunn.
• Melanie Chandler-Winters is the new community representative and is Creative Northland’s Taitokerau ki te raki Creative Advisor.

Chairperson Wally Hicks said the committee received only five applications this funding round. “All five were successful in receiving full or part funding.”

The recipients are:

• Rachel Miller’s ‘Heaven on Earth’ exhibition, $2000
• Kāeo’s Nga Purapura Festival 2023, $2450
• Meraki Hub Project Paihia, $2000
• Oromāhoe Kindergarten’s Playground Project, $2500
• Our Kerikeri Community Trust’s Summer Jazz Festival, $3600.      

“The committee members were again concerned about applications lacking supporting documents, notably quotes for their budget items,” says Mr Hicks. “Four of the five grants had to be made dependent upon missing documentation being provided before funds are uplifted. We find it sad, time-consuming, and compromising being faced with the possibility of having to declare otherwise excellent applications ineligible,” he added.

Applicants are advised to read the guidelines on the FNDC website before applying online or by post and to attach quotes along with letters of support and financial statements. Applicants can also contact the council’s funding advisor or a committee member for assistance with applications.

The CCS first round funding deadline for 2023 will be in early February. Applications will be considered at the March 2023 meeting (dates to be confirmed). Arts events and projects must begin after the next CCS meeting scheduled for early March 2023.

Visit the FNDC Creative Communities funding page for more information.

Caption: The CCS team (left to right, standing) Nopera Pikari, Wally Hicks, Eljon Fitzgerald, John Hayward, Melanie Chandler-Winters, Christine Klingenberg; (seated) Janet Planet (Deputy Chair) and Ann Winship.