If you are a Coromandel art group or involved in a creative project in need of funding then get in touch with the Thames-Coromandel District Council today.

The latest round of council's Creative Communities Funding Scheme opened on Thursday and a total of $11,500 is up for grabs by groups and projects right across the Coromandel.

The latest round of the Thames-Coromandel District Council's Creative Communities Funding Scheme opened this week and applications closes on at 4pm on October 30. Photo: File

Backed by Creative New Zealand, the scheme aims to increase participation in the arts, broaden the range and diversity available to communities and enhance and strengthen the local arts sector.

'Funding is awarded to projects rather than people undertaking the project and applications must meet one or more of the scheme's criteria,” says council.

All projects must start after November 27 and there are three main criteria groups and projects must satisfy: broad community involvement, diversity and young people.

Under ‘broad community involvement', projects must create opportunities for local communities to engage with and participate in arts activities.

For ‘diversity', projects must support the diverse arts and cultural traditions of local communities, enriching and promoting their uniqueness and cultural diversity.

While under ‘young people', projects must enable and encourage people 18 years and under to engage with and actively participate in the arts.

Projects or activities ideal for funding include exhibitions, productions, concerts, festivals, workshops and presentations offering opportunities for community involvement in the arts.

Funding will also be considered for activities supporting the traditions and arts of ethnic communities, youth arts events and artist-led projects involving local communities.

Materials for arts activities or programmes, personnel costs for one-off, short-term projects, and promotion and publicity of arts activities will also be considered for funding by council.

'School-based projects that are outside of the school's normal activities and provide opportunities for community participation or benefits to the wider community are also eligible,” adds council.

'We administer the funding based on decisions made by a District Assessment Committee made up of representatives from across the Thames-Coromandel District.”

All applications must be received by 4pm on October 30.

For more information call the scheme's coordinator Margaret Harrison on 07-866-1001 or to apply visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council's Creative Communities Scheme website.