Creative Communities Scheme
Applications for funding now open
The Creative Communities Scheme is open for funding applications, with decisions made in November. For more details and to apply, head to the Funding Portal.
Need help? Email us at funding@taupo.govt.nz.
Applications for the Creative Communities Scheme close at 5.30pm on Wednesday 30 September 2026.
Overview
The Creative Communities Scheme (CCS) is a cornerstone of grassroots arts funding in Aotearoa. It’s a partnership between Creative New Zealand, Local Authorities like us and communities, designed to empower local creatives by supporting projects that:
- Boost participation: Think community choirs, hip-hop workshops, or collaborative murals (and so much more).
- Celebrate diversity: Projects might reflect Māori, Pasifika, migrant, or disability arts traditions.
- Engage young people: From youth-led films to music workshops and visual art exhibitions (and so much more).
Additional local priorities
While not mandatory, applicants are encouraged to consider how their project may also support the following local priorities:
- Innovation: Projects that explore new ideas, support new artists, foster unique creative collaborations, or develop original local work in fresh and innovative ways.
- Rural reach: Projects that extend beyond Taupō township into communities such as Tūrangi, Mangakino and other smaller settlements within the wider Taupō District.
There is approximately $39,000 available for distribution annually from Creative New Zealand, split across two funding rounds. This financial year, Taupō District Council is also providing a one-off contribution of $50,000.
Eligibility
To be eligible, projects must:
- Take place within Taupō District
- Be completed within 12 months of funding being approved
- Benefit local communities
- Not have started or finished before CCS funding is approved
- Not have already been funded through Creative New Zealand’s other arts funding programmes.
The application process
Step 1: Plan
- You need to start by getting your ducks in a row and evidencing the need for your project before our funding rounds open.
- Check out our funding calendar to know when our funding rounds are next open.
- Our Funding Toolkit will also support you to create a funding plan for your project.
- Sign up to our Community Kōrero newsletter to keep up to date with funding news and opportunities.
- Familiarise yourself with our eligibility requirements and funding criteria which outlines how we consider and prioritise applications to TDC funds.
- If you haven’t submitted a request with us before, we recommend you use this time to create an account and familiarise yourself with our Funding Portal.
Step 2: Prepare
- Once you’ve created an account in our Funding Portal, you will be able to view our application form to get an idea of the types of questions we will ask in an application.
- In addition to our written questions, you will also need to provide the below information as part of your application:
- Evidence of Bank Account
- A budget
- A copy of your latest financial statement (if you are an individual applying this is not required)
- Two quotes, or reasoning for why two quotes cannot be provided
- Any other documentation you think will support your application.
Step 3: Apply
- When funding rounds open, you will be able to submit an online application through our Funding Portal.
- Funds will generally be open for one month. Unfortunately late and/or paper applications cannot be accepted.
- We recommend submitting well before the closing date to allow us to review and come back to you if any additional information is required. We will message you through the Funding Portal if any additional information is sought.
- Once you submit your online application, you’ll instantly receive an automated email confirming we’ve got it – no need to wonder if it went through!
- We hope to get back to you within eight weeks of the application period closing.
Step 4: Assessment
- Your application is considered against different criteria and funding framework depending on what fund you’re applying to.
- The Creative Communities Scheme Fund uses this criteria.
Step 5: Decisions
- Different committees consider funding applications.
- If you wish, you may be present at these meetings to answer any questions of clarification decision makers may have.
- Where this applies, we will ask as part of your application if you wish to be present at the decision meeting. If you select ‘yes’ we will be in touch to let you know of the details at the application closing date.
- Committee members, meeting times and locations are available to view here.
- If you’re applying to the Creative Communities Scheme Fund, the Creative Taupō Committee allocate this pūtea. The arts coordinator will be in touch with you after applications close to let you know of the meeting date.
- Once decisions have been made, we’ll let you know the outcome through the Funding Portal. You’ll also receive an email notification with a letter confirming the decision.
Step 6: Payment
- If your organisation is GST registered, you will need to send an invoice for the amount offered plus GST to funding@taupo.govt.nz.
- If you are not GST registered, there is nothing you need to do! You will receive the grant payment within one month.
- Don’t forget – we’d love for you to show our support of your project by displaying our logo on your promotional material. Our logos and brand guidelines can be accessed here. For Creative Taupo and Creative New Zealand logos, please use the following:
- Creative Taupō logo 1 & logo 2.
- Creative New Zealand logos.
Step 7: Tell us how you got on!
- While we haven’t met anyone who loves written reporting just yet, this is a really important part of the process to help us account for how funds are being spent!
- All reporting will be completed online, in our Funding Portal under the “milestones” tab.
- All funding recipients are required to spend and account for the funds within 12 months of being successful.
- Your reporting asks for updates on how the project went, as well as evidence of how the grant was spent (e.g. receipts, media promotion etc).
Questions?
Please contact the Community Arts Coordinator – ac@creativetaupo.org.nz
Past funding recipients
2026 funding recipients
Funding recipients March/April 2026
| Applicant | Purpose | Allocation |
| Centre Stage Taupō | The Drowsy Chaperone | $3,000.00 |
| Chris Marshall and Donovan Bixley (Taupō Jazz Orchestra) | Winter Fever Concert at Winter Festival 2026 | $675.00 |
| Dance Central | Winter Festival 2026 - Dance Central will collaborate with the Taupō Orchestra to present an interactive live performance uniting youth dance and orchestral music | $1,000.00 |
| Kids Greening Taupō / Hilltop School | Hilltop School Outdoor Classroom Mural Project | $1,700.00 |
| Midday Concert Series (Tracey Liddington) | Midday Concert Series | $2,000.00 |
| One Taupō Trust | Taupō Winter Festival | $3,000.00 |
| Taupō Camera Club Incorporated | Taupō Camera Club presenter workshops | $3,925.00 |
| Taupō Choral Society | Taupō Choral Solid Gold - 50th Jubilee Concert | $5,000.00 |
| Taupō School of Music | Taupō School of Music - Big Music Day | $4,500.00 |
| Te Hokinga Ki To Mauri Charitable Trust | Tane Waiata Project | $2,000.00 |
| Te Taiopenga o Tūwharetoa Schools Kapa Haka | Te Taiopenga o Tūwharetoa School Kapa Haka | $10,000.00 |
| Tessa Cameron on behalf of Anamata Café | Rangatahi colour run | $1,035.00 |
| Toi Tūwharetoa Art Collective | MAIEA - To Surface - educational exhibition | $5,685.00 |
| Town Centre Taupō | Graffiato: Taupō Street Art Festival 2026 | $8,000.00 |
| ACT2 Visual and Performing Arts School | Finding Nemo Jnr | Declined |
| Bernise Williams | Kowhaiwhai as a pathway to Whakapapa connection and cultural identity painting wananga | Declined |
| Taupō Art Connection | Art Expos and Art Trail | Declined |
| Taupō Choral Society Charitable Trust | Autumnual Tones | Declined |
| Taupō Pride Trust | Sparkle and Joy (Pride Dance) | Declined |
| Taupō Strings | Taupō Strings Youth Collab and Concert | Declined |
2025 funding recipients
Funding recipients September 2025
Group | Purpose | Allocation |
|---|---|---|
Midday Concert | Venue hire for the midday concert series | $1,500 |
David Flynn | Flynn’s Celtic Strings | $2,552 |
Kids Greening Taupo | Nature Art Series | $1,940 |
Great Lake Film Society | In Absentia film | $5,000 |
Taupo Camera Club | Equipment for the editing and presentation of photography | $3,399 |
Tania Smallman | Christmas Carnival | $4,000 |
Taupo Choral Society | ‘Sing In The Summer’ music event | $5,000 |
Taupo Concert Band | Winterfest Children’s Concert | $1,300 |
Jayden Brett Purcell | Raranga Auahua – Innovative Weaving | $4,600 |
Hazel Phillips | Fire & Ice: Connecting literature to landscape | $800 |
Taupo Art Connection | Art exhibition | $3,250 |
Marotiri School | Kapa Haka customary moko stamp | $550 |
Chantal Cobby | In Our Twenties: storytelling reflection | $294.50 |
Chris Marshall | Composition Support | $1,000 |
Act 2 Performing Arts | Carrie The Musical - set design and creation | $2,000 |
Centre Stage Taupo | Heater | Declined |
Taupo 60’s and Up | Member outings | Declined |
Funding recipients March 2025
| Group | Purpose | Allocation |
| Towncentre Taupō Inc | Graffiato: Taupō Street Art Festival | $6,000.00 |
| Taupō School of Music | Taupō School of Music Big Music Day | $3,000.00 |
| Centre Stage Taupō Inc | Speakeasy Project | $5,000.00 |
| Tongariro School | Tongariro School Exhibition | $4,000.00 |
| Te Roopu Taiopenga o Tūwharetoa | Ngāti Tūwharetoa Taiopenga: Schools Kapa Haka Festival | $5,000.00 |
| Tūrangi ArtWorks Inc | The Inclusion Project | $5,096.00 |
| ACT2 Visual and Performing Arts School | Moana the Musical | $4,000.00 |
| Great Lake Film Society | In Absentia | $8,000.00 |
| Tracey Lidington on behalf of Midday Concert Series | Midday Concert Series | $1,040.00 |
| Nicola Dowling | Huihui//Collide 2025 | $3,000.00 |
| Taupō Camera Club | Taupō Camera Club - Presenter Workshop | $2,300.00 |
| Kinloch Families Charitable Trust | Kinstock 2026 | $3,000.00 |
| Taupō Choral Society | We will remember | $900.00 |
| Taupō String | Taupō Strings School Workshop | $750.00 |
| 5th Element Dance | Embodying Nature's 5 Elements: Dance, Music, & Arts Exploration | $3,000.00 |
| Gemma Bowman | Art for Thriving: Open Studio Collective | $3,500.00 |
| Taupō Art Connection | Taupō Art Expo | $1,500.00 |
| One Taupō Trust | Taupō Winter Festival - Theatre Show | $4,800.00 |
| Taupō Youth Wind Band - Taupō school of Music | Taupō Youth Wind Band (TYWB) Lunchtime Concert | $745.00 |
| Active Arts Incorporated Taupō | Active Arts studio equipment upgrade | $3,500.00 |
| Sarah Dempsey | Creation Station - Lantern Decorating | $372.00 |
2024 funding recipients
Funding recipients September 2024
Groups | Purpose | Allocation |
|---|---|---|
Taupo Community Playgroup | To support the facilitation of creative art learning experiences through ‘Crafty Mondays’ | $750.00 |
Kids Greening Taupo | To support a Nature Art Series with Sue Graham | $1,100.00 |
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori Whakarewa i te reo ki Tūwharetoa | To support Whakarewa piupiu wānanga | $2,500.00 |
Centre Stage Taupo Inc | To support a youth and adult improvisation workshop | $2,300.00 |
Bay of Plenty Music School | To support the Bay of Plenty Music School 2025 | $3,750.00 |
NZMSM Taupo/Tongariro | To support costs for the New Zealand Modern School of Music Taupō/Tongariro young students competitions | $1,000.00 |
Acacia Bay Residents Association | To support the installation of a standing artwork of NZ native flora | $2,500.00 |
Tūrangi Events Committee | To support costs for the Christmas In The Park 2024 pallet Christmas tree art pieces | $2,000.00 |
Taupō Choral Society | To support the Spring Serenades concert in collaboration with the Taupō Brass Band | $1,000.00 |
Kinloch Families Charitable Trust | To support Kinstock 2025 music festival | $2,100.00 |
The Glow Show Company | To support the Te Moana Glow Show | Application Withdrawn |
5th Element Dance | To support Embodying the Elements: Dance, Music & Arts Exploration | Declined |
Funding recipients April 2024
Groups | Purpose | Allocation |
|---|---|---|
The Glow Show Company Limited | To support Badjelly The Witch Glow Show | $2000.00 |
Taupo Quiltmakers | To fund the Taupō Quiltmakers Exhibition, The Fabric of Aotearoa | $900.00 |
Vanessa Wairata Edwards-Buerger | To support Taa e korero ana - marks that speak. | $1000.00 |
Taupo Art Connection | To support the Taupō Art Connection – Taupō Art Expo | $2000.00 |
Taupo Camera Club | To fund the Taupō Camera Club Exhibition | $2000.00 |
Nicola Quinn | To support the Huihui/Collide dance festival for students | $3000.00 |
Sarah Dempsey | To support the Creation Station - Light Cone at the Taupō Winter Festival | $1600.00 |
Taupo School of Music | To support the Taupō School of Music Big Music Day | $3000.00 |
Pihanga Health | To support operational costs for the ‘Healing Arts’ project | $4500.00 |
Centre Stage Taupo Incorporated | To support the operational costs of producing The 39 Steps: A Live Radio Play | $1500.00 |
Tongariro School | To fund materials for the Tongariro School - Mahi Toi project | $5500.00 |
Every Body Is A Treasure Charitable Trust | To fund operational costs for the Finding Venus Experience - (Film - Exhibition - Workshop) | $4000.00 |
Every Body Is A Treasure Charitable Trust | To support operational costs to run a Visual Poetry Jam Workshop and Online Master Classes | $2400.00 |
ACT2 Visual and Performing Arts School | To fund operational costs for Frozen JNR the Musical | $1000.00 |
Midday Concert Series | To support operational costs for the Midday Concert - The Aurum Trio | $1000.00 |
Lake Taupo Hospice | To support operational costs for the Creative Carnival | Declined |
Mangakino School | To fund uniforms and tools to create a visual art space | Declined |
The Preserving Local History and Educational Trust (Te Pupuri I Nga Hitori o Te Rohe Trust) | To support digitisation & accessibility project of the Taupō Times | Declined |
Every Body Is A Treasure Charitable Trust | To support operational costs for a mindful stabbing workshop | Declined |
2023 funding recipients
Funding recipients September 2023
| Individual/ Organisation | Purpose | Allocation |
|---|---|---|
| Active Arts Taupō Incorporated | To support community workshops in the exploration of pastel, watercolour pencil and sketching. | $3,000 |
| Mangakino Central Charitable Trust | To support giving our valued volunteers an opportunity to learn a new skill or craft. | $1,000 |
| Centre Stage Taupō Inc | To fund the musical direction fees associated with the production of a live radio play in collaboration with The Taupō Concert Band. | $3,000 |
| Jessica Parker | To support costs associated with music competitions for local students aged 5-18 years. | $1,000 |
| Taupō Community Gardens Trust | To support a harakeke weaving workshop at the Taupō Community Gardens. | $200 |
| Bay Of Plenty Music School | To support a music school for a choir, orchestra and wind band over a weekend in April 2024. | $3,400 |
| Kids Greening Taupō | To support nature Art Series community workshops with Sue Graham. | $1,143 |
| ACT2 Visual and Performing Arts School | To support costs associated with the Addams Family Musical. | $2,000 |
| Mangakino School | To support our curriculum with a visit to Matai Village in Rotorua. | Declined |
| One Taupō Trust | To fund costs associated with the Taupō Winter Festival 2024. | Declined |
Funding recipients March 2023
Individual/ Organisation | Purpose | Allocation |
|---|---|---|
Little Green Man Productions | Wonderland Glow Show | $1,000.00 |
Miriam Gee | Budding Artists | $1,500.00 |
Nikki Quinn | Huihui//Collide 2023 | $3,000.00 |
One Taupō Trust | Performers for the Taupō Winter Show | $5,000.00 |
Taupō School of Music | Taupō School of Music Big Music Day | $4,000.00 |
Taupō Art Trail | Taupō Art Trail | $1,000.00 |
Midland Health Network Ltd | Hauora Arts Tane Tautoko | $5,000.00 |
Film Bay of Plenty | All About Web-Series | $1,500.00 |
Asher Seymour William Lee | Totems - Life Dealer EP | Declined |
All Things Wonderful Limited | Songwriters Series: Taonga Pūoro | $2,000.00 |
2022 funding recipients
Funding recipients September 2022
Organisation | Purpose | Allocation |
Towncentre Taupō Ltd | To support Graffiato, a street art festival, held annually in Taupo over Labour weekend. 12 well known artists paint 10 walls over the 3 days. The murals bring beauty and joy to the locals in Taupo and do a fantastic job of livening up back alleyways and streets. | $2000 |
Taupō Art Connection | To support local artists exhibiting at a Pop-up Art Exhibition in a local 'space'. | $5985 |
Mangakino Central Charitable Trust | This project is for the purpose of giving community members the opportunity to learn new skills and past time crafts. Each course will be instructed by a local artist and to start we will be planning on a maximum of 6 students per course to ensure that the tutor has enough time to spend with each student. | $1298 |
Plateau Printmakers | Plateau Printmakers have been invited by Taupo Museum to exhibit their prints alongside an exhibition in the main gallery of Peter Jarvis's Ferner Galleries collection of printmaking. As well as exhibiting a variety of original contemporary fine art printmaking, the group will also deliver a range of workshops and events that the community can participate in. | $1620 |
Waitangi ki Pukawa Festival 2023 | To support the delivery of the 2023 Waitangi ki Pukawa Festival. | $6000 |
Every Body is a Treasure Charitable Trust | Day workshops for creative and artistic youth in the region, using cellphone technology to teach photography, visual storytelling and creative critical thinking skills. Scholarships for further on-line classes for a year of mentorship are available for any students who apply. | $3000 |
Funding recipients March 2022
| Organisation | Purpose | Allocation |
|---|---|---|
Centre Stage Taupō | 'RENT' Musical by Jonathan Larson | $6,547.00 |
George O'Connor Patena | Matariki Winter Festival of Light - Whareroa | $4,400.00 |
Little Green Man Productions Limited | Matariki Glow Show 2022 | $2,000.00 |
Mountview School | Whaia Te Mana | $7,000.00 |
One Taupō Trust | Malcolm Flowers Insurances Taupō Winter Festival | $5,300.00 |
Sally-Ann Davies | Festive Printmaking For The Whole Whānau | $839.00 |
Taupō Concert Band Incorporated | Taupō Concert Band Winter Workshop | $920.00 |
Transparency matters
Please note that all information provided in your application will be made available to relevant funding committees for assessment purposes. Select details - including your name, organisation name, and the amount applied for will also be made publicly available on the Council website.
