Creative Communities Grants Boost Arts Projects In Kaipara
Projects, as diverse as celebrating Matariki with an exhibition of visual arts, a lantern parade and bringing a Shakespeare production with a 2009 spin to Dargaville have received assistance in the latest round of Creative Communities New Zealand Local Funding.
The Government Grants help fund local arts and cultural activities in Kaipara through two half-yearly allocations of approximately $8,000 each and these are administered by a local committee of Iwi, community and Kaipara District Council representatives.
The latest round of funding sees a total of $6,950 allocated to ten applicants who received grants ranging from $350.00 to $1,500. An extra $700.00 has been retained by the committee to allow “in-between funding” for applications, received before the next funding round in October, to a maximum of $500.00 each.
Fourteen applications with requests totalling $30,700 were received and the ten successful ones were:
- Dargaville Kauri Coast Promotions Society Incorporated to underwrite any loss in bringing Big Belly Women to Dargaville as part of Matariki celebrations
- Dargaville Public Library for a community performance of Hamlet and Othello by the Ugly Shakespeare Company
- Kaiwaka War Memorial Hall Society for lantern making workshops and a lantern parade as part of Kaiwaka’s 150 year celebrations
- Kumarani Productions for a community circus show
- Mangawhai Flax Weavers to hold a four day/three nights weaving workshop at Mangawhai
- Otamatea Repertory Theatre to cover travelling fees for a choreographer and pianist involved in producing “Fiddler on The Roof”
- Otamatea Repertory Theatre towards U Ort 2 B A ê - a singing course for school children
- Daryl Quirk and Eleanor Carter to provide mosaic classes for people with mental illnesses
- Te Kopuru School Board of Trustees towards the school’s Performing Arts Festival
- Ayesha Waipouri and Edward Pumipi to organise a Kaipara District Exhibition of visual artists to celebrate the Matariki and encourage understanding of the unique southern hemisphere
- Creative Communities Local Assessment Committee Chairperson Debbie Evans says the committee is very pleased by the number of applications and that such a wide range of projects have been able to be assisted.
“It is great to have this money to help strengthen Kaipara’s arts sector. It provides the opportunity to explore new ideas, try new things and develop new skills.
“I am sure that in addition to the many people directly involved, the wider community will also benefit considerably from having these projects in their midst.”
The allocation committee includes Colleen Urlich and Manos Nathan (Iwi Representatives), Wendy Salter, Jan Grover, Maura Flower and Debbie Evans (Community Representatives), Councillors Julie Geange, Brian McEwing and Brian Burnett (Kaipara District Council) and Charlane White (Committee Administrator).