Grants support communities and creativity

Dunedin (Thursday, 14 June 2018) – More than $194,000 has been distributed to groups and artists to support the work of social services, assist event organisers and enhance the city’s culture and arts scene.

The Dunedin City Council’s Grants Subcommittee last month provided just over $36,700 to support a wide range of events, from a blind bowls tournament in the city to the annual St Andrew’s Day celebrations, and the New Zealand Track and Field Racing Championships.

The Committee allocated just over $36,300 of Creative New Zealand Creative Communities Scheme funding to 21 projects. These include the Dunedin Medieval Society’s Lord Punch, a Renaissance inspired Punch and Judy puppet show, and Louise Kewene-Doig’s Future Convergence: He Kohinga Pao, an interactive installation about Māori popular music of the 1960s.

DCC arts grants of $21,100 assisted 10 projects including Pūrākaunui Block Inc’s Motoitoi Documentary, a film focused on Motoitoi whanau, kaumatua and others versed in the history and survival of cultural identity and connection to place; the Mosgiel Brass Band for lessons for instrumental brass for new players; the Otago Peninsula Trust for Glenfalloch Night Garden, an outdoor sculpture installation; and Opera Otago for its production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

A total of 25 community and social services groups benefited from community grants of $100,000 to support their ongoing work.

DCC Manager Community Development and Events Joy Gunn says the funding is one of the many positive contributions the Council makes to community, arts and culture, and festival and event activities across the city.

“The Grants Subcommittee, comprising both Councillors and community and mana whenua representatives, takes its role very seriously and tries to fund as many projects and initiatives as possible with the funding available. They are delighted when they can fund so many high quality programmes and projects.”

The next grants round for community events, community groups and arts will open in September.

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