Nine local groups have been allocated just over $20,000 from Creative Communities New Zealand.

The grants are administered by Council and the assessment committee included councillors and community members.

A second grants round will take place in August and funding is available for a wide range of artistic ventures, from music and dance to visual arts and community workshops.

Successful applicants and their projects were:

• Ashburton Embroiderers Guild $1565 – Exhibition of work showing different types of embroidery
• Ashburton Highland and National Dancing Association $2000 – To host the NZ Highland and National Championships 2024 in Ashburton
• Ashburton Society of Performing Arts $2103 – For speech and drama and musical theatre competitions
• Ashburton Writers Group $430 – For short story competition
• Ashburton Youth Café – BASE $2000 – For King Cass workshops
• CanInspire Trust $3960 – To run CanBead art therapy workshops for people experiencing illness, trauma or loss
• Kate Low $3792 – To run theatre workshops for primary schools
• Newah Guthi New Zealand $2691 – For a traditional Newari Lakhye dance and Mha Puja
• The Glow Show Company Limited $2000 – To stage Badjelly the Witch glow show

Want to know more about the Creative Communities Scheme or other grants that are available through Council? See our grants and funding page.