The Creative Communities Scheme is now open for applications!

Get those creative juices flowing. The Creative Communities Scheme is now open for the final round of 2023!

Stratford’s Creative Communities Scheme is a partnership between Stratford District Council and Creative New Zealand. The fund was set-up to support arts and cultural projects that strengthen and invigorate the local art scene, increase participation, and widen the range and diversity of arts available to the community.

As well as financial support for local arts and cultural projects, there's now a one-off funding boost available for festivals that celebrate the experiences, cultures, and stories of New Zealanders. The extra support has been introduced specifically to help festivals that continue to be impacted by Covid-19.

Applications close on 1 September

Applications opened on Monday 31 July and close on 1 September 2023. Full funding criteria and an application form can be found at Stratford.govt.nz/CCS

CCS arts project funding

Applications can be made by an individual practitioner or a group. To be eligible for funding, projects must support one of the following criteria.

• Increase participation in the local arts
• Increase the range and diversity of the arts available to the Stratford community
• Enhance and strengthen the local arts sector

CCS festival funding

• Applicants must have delivered a festival at least once in the last five years, this can include through digital delivery
• For this fund, a festival is defined as a programme of events and activities featuring one or more artforms, from any cultural tradition