Council funds 24 Arts projects

Last week the Wellington City Council Economic Growth and Arts Committee granted more than $100,000 to support arts projects in Wellington through the Arts and Culture Fund.

Funding was allocated to 24 different arts projects, ranging from innovative new works by rising stars Show Pony and Goldthorpe Creative, to ongoing support for the Voice Arts Trust, the Enjoy Gallery, and Urban Dream Brokerage, and everything in between.

“We are lucky to have an incredibly high standard of applications for the Arts and Culture fund, which means that we are able to support the boldest and the best projects in Wellington” says Councillor Ray Ahipene-Mercer, Council’s Arts Portfolio Leader.

“However, there were many more requests for assistance than the fund could provide. We will need to consider whether we could increase the amount of the funding pool in the future.”

Funding also included significant support for Matariki projects and events, including a development programme for emerging Maori playwrights run by Tawata Productions and a number of community events.

The Arts and Culture Fund aims to support projects that contribute to our priorities in the arts; the city as a hothouse for talent, reinforcing Wellington as a region of confident identities, supporting active and engaged people and encouraging our creative future through technology.

Applications are open for the next funding round for the Arts and Culture Fund, with a closing date of 31 July 2014 for projects starting from September onwards.

A list of these grants can be found at http://wellington.govt.nz/~/media/services/community-and-culture/funding/files/Arts-and-Cultural-Fund.pdf

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