New Creative Communities Committee Appointed

Ruapehu District Council (RDC) has approved the appointment of the Creative Communities Committee (CCC) for the next three years.

The CCC which is funded by Creative NZ has the aim of increasing participation in the arts at a local level as well as increasing the range and diversity of arts and culture available to local communities.

The newly appointed CCC comprises RDC councillors Ron Cooke and Cynthia Dowsett along with five members who have been reinstated for another term being; Te Maari Gardiner, Trish Smart, Dorothy Barnes, Judith Mayer and Shirley Barton, and one new appointment Jackie Te Moananui.

RDC Senior Accountant, Marc Lorentzen, who administers the creative communities scheme for council on behalf of Creative NZ, said that he felt that the CCC had just the right mix of diversity to represent the range of art and culture within Ruapehu.

Mr Lorentzen noted that a special thank you needed to go to retiring CCC members Elaine McFetridge and Ngarau Tarawa on behalf of RDC, Creative NZ and the Ruapehu arts community.

“Both have served multiple terms on the CCC and have done an amazing job in assisting to promote, and improve access to, arts and culture within Ruapehu,” he said.

“The creative communities scheme plays a vitally important role in supporting local art and artists in Ruapehu.”

“All successful funding applications to the CCC must either increase the range and diversity or participation in arts and culture in Ruapehu, or, enhance and strengthen the local arts sector.”

“In addition all CCC grant allocations go toward projects that either take place within the Ruapehu District and/or produce benefits that are largely experienced within the District.”

Mr Lorentzen added that creative communities scheme can also provide a pathway for projects that fit the funding criteria, but which are too big for local CCC support, to apply for funding directly from Creative NZ.

“The next CCC funding round is in May 2014.”

“If anyone has any queries in the interim they can go to www.ruapehudc.govt.nz or call me directly via any RDC office,” he said.

Ends

© Scoop Media