29 November 2005

Partnership grants benefit community fourfold

Earlier this month the Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee approved grants to four community-focused projects, each aimed at delivering benefits to Auckland City residents and funded from within Auckland City's Facility Partnership Scheme.

A Concessionary Interest Grant (ICG) of $60,000 was allocated to the Moving Image Centre, a national creative media arts organisation that promotes community activities and events in moving image and digital art. The ICG grant is the first of its kind to be approved under the Facility Partnership Scheme.

Chairperson of the Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee, Councillor Penny Sefuiva, says Auckland City is glad to be able to offer this support to the Moving Image Centre.

"We are pleased to be able to assist innovation and original art in the creative industry and support a facility that Auckland City artists and others working in this field can access," says Councillor Sefuiva.

A grant of $650,000 has been approved for the provision of a learn-to-swim pool at the Philips Aquatic Centre in Mt Albert. The Centre is currently well used by the community and this has lead to the recognised need for a dedicated learn-to-swim pool at the facility.

The Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee also approved grants to support two projects on Waiheke Island. The Waiheke Island Country Club was allocated a $285,000 grant to assist with plans to improve and upgrade the quality of its golf course at Onetangi Sports Park. A grant of $1.6 million was also approved in support of the project to develop an indoor swimming pool on Waiheke Island.

Auckland City is continuing its work with the Mt Eden Methodist Church to progress plans for restoration, upgrade and redevelopment of the Church into a community facility. It is envisaged that a community group will be set up to govern and manage the centre once it is open.

The Facility Partnerships Scheme has been established by Auckland City to assist the development of community arts, cultural and leisure facilities for the community. Through partnerships, Auckland City residents are able to access an increased number of quality community facilities that are funded in partnership with not-for-profit organisations and other (private) funding organisations.

For further information on the Facility Partnership Scheme, please visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/documents

ENDS

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