There are three funding criteria under the Creative Communities Scheme:
- Access and participation
- Diversity
- Young people
Committees are encouraged to apply the funding criteria according to the arts needs within their own local council's area.
The funding criteria are stated in the application form and all applicants are required to identify the one criterion that their project best relates to.
Many projects may relate to more than one, but Creative New Zealand asks that you identify and record the most relevant funding criterion for each project.
Access and participation
The project will create opportunities for local communities to engage with and participate in local arts activities, eg:
- performances by community choirs, hip-hop groups, theatre companies or poets
- workshops on printmaking, writing or dancing
- exhibitions by local craft groups promoting weaving, pottery or carving
- festivals featuring local artists
- creation of a film or public artwork by a community
- development of new tukutuku, whakairo or kōwhaiwhai for a local marae
- artist residencies involving local artists or communities
- seminars for the development of local artists.
Diversity
The project will support the diverse artistic cultural traditions of local communities, enriching and promoting their uniqueness and cultural diversity, eg:
- workshops, rehearsals, performances, festivals or exhibitions in Māori or Pasifika heritage or contemporary artforms
- workshops, rehearsals, performances, festivals or exhibitions by local migrant communities
- arts projects that bring together groups from a range of different communities
- workshops, rehearsals, performances, festivals or exhibitions by groups with experience of disability or mental illness.
Young people
The project will enable and encourage young people (under 18) to engage with and actively participate in the arts, eg:
- a group of young people working with an artist to create a mural or street art
- a group of young people creating a film about an issue that’s important to them
- publication of a collection of writings by young people
- music workshops for young people
- an exhibition of visual art work by young people.