Local artists can apply for funding assistance now

Teaching art to children allows Linda Brajkovich to help them open the doors to a world of creativity.

Last year she was one of the beneficiaries of a Creative Community Arts Grant which provided $500 to help pay towards canvases, paints and brushes for her after school art classes.

Applications for this year's Creative Community Grant opens 1 October and closes 4pm on Friday, 31 October. A fund of $12,000 is available.

Linda, who is now retired and lives in Te Puru, has been providing after school art classes for children from Thames and the Thames Coast for 18 years.

"I have classes almost every day after school and the children start from around age five," says Linda. "We become friends and stay friends forever."

"With the money I received from the Grant I've been able to hold two big public exhibitions of the children's oil paintings," says Linda. One exhibition was at the Goldfields Mall in Thames and the second will be at the Te Puru flower show on November 8 at the Te Puru Hall.

"I've always been creative," says Linda. "I used to design clothes and do screen painting and had three stores until my son got sick with leukaemia when he was two years old.

Over the next 13 years Linda then home schooled her son and two daughters.

"The children's father was also an amazing jeweller and potter and so we were always doing creative, arty things."

"You can't make a mistake with art; if you can be creative you can make something out of nothing," says Linda.

Linda now has two to three days available next term for anyone interested in enrolling their children in after school art classes. Ph 868 2991. 3 - 5pm. ($12 per session)

So if like Linda, you're involved in local and creative arts, now is the time to apply for funding from the Creative Communities Scheme.

To find out more about how to apply for Creative community Funding click here.

Creative Community Funding

Funding is awarded to projects rather than people undertaking the project and applications must meet one or more of the scheme’s criteria.

Your project must meet one or more of the following funding criteria:

• Broad community involvement - The project will create opportunities for local communities to engage with and participate in arts activities.

• Diversity - The project will support the diverse arts and cultural traditions of local communities, enriching and promoting their uniqueness and cultural diversity.

• Young people - The project will enable and encourage young people (under 18 years) to engage with and actively participate in the arts.

• Projects that may be considered under this scheme should:

• Advance the development of arts and cultural activities within the community.

• Take place within the Thames-Coromandel District

• Produce benefits which are largely experienced within the District

Application forms are available from all TCDC offices or on the Council website here.

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