Funding for Community Arts Projects - 2024 to 25 now closed. Next round of Expressions of Interests in July '25.
Welcome to the Application page for Franklin Local Board Community Arts Grant. Here you will find information about how to make an Expression of Interest (EOI), this is closed for the current year. You can also contact the Arts Broker, Stephen Bain, for help or to answer questions by email or make a time to speak in person. You can send in an EOI anytime from July 2025 for FUNDING for community arts projects in Franklin. The idea of an EOI is to begin a conversation with you about your project, there may be ways of helping that are less about money than getting connected to others, either way express yourself in a way that best suits your ideas.
Join the vital, inspiring and forward-thinking groups and individuals that make Franklin such a great place to live and work. All projects with a community arts focussed between August '25 and June 2026 are eligible.
We will send out an email & social media posts to let you know when next year's EOIs are sought.
To submit an EOI, we'll ask you: - what your idea is, who's involved, when you plan to do it, and what the community involvement or outcomes are. - a budget
Before you fill out the application form, check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for details on how to apply. Make sure you read question 3 - Franklin Local Board Objectives so help explain how your project aligns strategically.
FAQs
1. WHAT AND WHO ARE COMMUNITY ARTS GRANTS FOR?
The Franklin Local Board Arts Broker Grants is a small fund designed to respond to local creative arts activities and ventures. In the past we have helped support community art events, artist workshops, theatrical and musical productions, festivals, public artworks, development opportunities, weekly meet-ups, youth and schools art projects. Grants generally range from between $500 - $2,500 (sometimes greater for exceptional events). Our aim is to invigorate local arts opportunities for people working and living across the Franklin region, enabling access and creating opportunities for anyone engaging with the arts, they may be professional or amateur artists. The arts benefit our communities in many ways; finding ways to think and act collectively, raising awareness of important issues, enabling participation with people from different backgrounds.
2. WHO IS FRANKLIN LOCAL BOARD?
Franklin Local Board are your democratically elected representatives for the Franklin region, spanning from the eastern Pōhutukawa Coast on Hauraki Gulf, right across to Manukau Harbour on the west, including Awhitu Peninsular, represented on a map as Franklin region.
You can find out about the Franklin Local Board, including events, planning and grants here.
3. WHAT ARE THE FRANKLIN LOCAL BOARD OBJECTIVES FOR THE YEAR 24/25 ?
Outcomes sought by the Franklin Local Board The Franklin Local Board have identified 6 outcomes towards making Franklin a better place to live and work. You can read about these in the Franklin Local Board Plan. Each year the board set targets and priorities for the arts broker programme. If your project fits one of these priorities then tell us how. If there are other community benefits that sit outside these outcomes, tells us about how your project will speak to those priorities. These are guidelines, not rules, so tell us about what it is that you would like to achieve through your creative arts project. Kaitiakitanga and protection of our environment We will work with mana whenua, local communities, and others to lead and inform environmental conservation, restoration, and regeneration projects and to recover and regenerate waste. Cultural heritage and Māori identity is expressed in our communities We will support the capture, recording and promotion of local cultural narratives so that new residents, visitors, and future generations can experience, understand, and enjoy our stories and perspectives. A sense of belonging and strong community participation We will support and enable community organisations to deliver local community activities and cultural programmes, to encourage local participation and to respond to local change.
4. AM I ELIGIBLE?
All projects must benefit people living and working in Franklin. Anyone living or working in Franklin is eligible to apply, in some cases you may include people with expertise from outside the region, or collaborate with people from other regions to bring art and cultural experiences to the people of Franklin.
5. CAN I GET HELP IN FILLING THE APPLICATION FORM?
Yes. Sometimes application forms do your head in. Email the Arts Broker, Stephen on [email protected] to get help filling in the form, or developing your idea to express yourself clearly.
6. WHAT KINDS OF PROJECTS ARE COMMUNITY ARTS?
Last year we supported an abundance of projects that managed to find a way through lockdowns, slow-downs and postponements to bring people together to make, enjoy, experience art and culture. Graze through previous projects for inspiration using the Menu at the top of this page.
7. DOES THE TIMING MATTER?
Yes. We receive yearly funding for grants, so projects need to take place between Sept 2024 and June 2025. Submissions are open from 8 July until 4 Aug. If your project spans across more than one year get in touch and we’ll figure out how best to apply.
8. DO you have any tips ON WRITING a good proposal?
These things might help: - have a strong creative idea driving it - fit within one of the project areas listed above - give equal weight to creative ideas and community benefit - have strong local connections
Your arts broker can also provide project support in a number of ways other than just funding, from assistance navigating Council processes to connecting you with other creative people or community organisations or writing a press release - let's talk about what you might need to make the project happen.
9. Are there other places I can get funding?
The Franklin Local Board offers general local board grants rounds available throughout 2024 & 2025, read more and apply to them here. You can also apply to the Creative Communities Scheme for funding for your project, while projects of national significance might be more suited to applying to Creative New Zealand.
There may be other places you can apply for community projects, speak to the arts broker about other possibilities.