Te Kaupapa Hapori Auaha ā-Rohe o Whakaoriori
The Creative Communities Scheme encourages community involvement, celebrates cultural diversity, and encourages young people to participate in arts activities. Applications can be made for things like exhibitions, workshops, personnel costs associated with short-term projects, artist development, arts promotion, and community participation.
Round 2 will be open for applications on 12 October 2026, please check back here then for an application form.
Applications to Round 2 will close at 4.30pm on Friday, 20 November 2026.
There will be two other Rounds available for the remainder of the 2026/27 funding year, as follows, with the application forms being available on the below opening dates:
Round 3; Applications will open 11 January 2027 and close on 19 February, for projects commencing from 5 March 2027
Round 4; Applications will open 12 April 2027 and close on 19 May, for projects commencing from 4 June 2027.
The assessment committee is happy to help you with your application or answer any questions. Their contact details are below, or you can get in touch with the Grants Administrator by emailing: deannae@mstn.govt.nz
Successful applicants and their projects in the 2025/26 funding year were:
- Round 1 – Christine Daniell (outdoor poems), Motuoru Trust (youth art therapy classes), Jane Ross (Wairarapa cinematheque), The Art of Seeing Academy (free nature photography for children), and Wairarapa Youth Orchestra (Term 4 programme).
- Round 2 – Hannah Bremner (the imaginary archives), Elevate Wairarapa Community Charitable Trust (summer hummer 2026), Every Body is a Treasure Trust (mindful stabbing – needle felting workshop), NZ Suzuki Institute Wellington Branch (music summer camp 2026), and Te Awhina Community Hub (the wool project).
- Round 3 – Chantelle Cobby (in our twenties), Good Lives Wairarapa Charitable Trust (Stardust Masterton), Manaia Kindergarten (enhancing and supporting children’s woodwork), The Art of Seeing Academy (free autumn photography for children), Jane Ross (Barry Barclay retrospective), The CanInspire Charitable Trust (CanBead Masterton), Wairarapa Art Trail Incorporated (Wairarapa art trail) and Wairarapa Youth Orchestra (Term 2 2026 programme).
- Round 4 – Stefan Brown (Troubadour Music Group), ConArt Gallery & Studios Incorporated (artist studio grants), Paul Gadsby (Living with blood cancer art exhibition), The Humorous Arts charitable Trust (Laughs on Tour).
