Young people in the Hutt Valley are set to benefit from a series of opportunities ranging from a project teaching traditional Maori carving in Wainuiomata to a film-making workshop focused on sustainability thanks to the success of local art groups in the recent Creative Communities Scheme funding round.

Young people in the Hutt Valley are set to benefit from a series of opportunities ranging from a project teaching traditional Maori carving in Wainuiomata to a film-making workshop focused on sustainability thanks to the success of local art groups in the recent Creative Communities Scheme funding round.

The Scheme exists to encourage people to lead and actively participate in art and cultural activities in their community.

Among the successful applicants was Koraunui School, who applied for funding to assist with the staging of the annual Polyfest performances at Walter Nash Stadium in Taita. This performing arts showcases for local school children has gone from strength to strength, with 20 schools wanting to take part in 2015.

Also successful in their application for funding was Chamber Music Hutt Valley, who in 2015 are trialling a week-long residency ‘Play it up!’ in Lower Hutt with the Mimosa Ensemble, a group of outstanding young New Zealand musicians. Budding musicians at Lower Hutt schools will have the opportunity to learn from these inspiring young musicians, who are all currently pursuing further study at European music schools.

The passing on of skills is also supported through a grant to the Hutt Valley Cook Islands Association for a series of workshops focused on tivaevae (traditional Cook Islands quilting). Examples of the work by tutors for the workshops are currently on show at Te Papa in the acclaimed exhibition “Tivaevae: Out of the Glory Box”.

About the Creative Communities Scheme

The CCS fund is provided by Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa and administered by Hutt City Council to support and encourage local communities to create and present diverse opportunities for accessing and participating in arts activities in the Hutt City.

Applications are assessed by a panel made up of arts organisations and practitioners from Hutt City. The committee had $35,000 to distribute. Seventeen groups and individuals applied for a total of $76,648 in funding.

Full list of successful applicants

Performance workshops – Brothers and sisters
$2,775.00 towards a series of performance workshops in dance and drama for young people

Play it up! Residency – Chamber Music Hutt Valley
$4,000 for music master classes by the Mimosa Ensemble culminating in a performance

The Outlook for Someday – Connected Media Charitable Trust
$2,912.00 towards a free film-making workshop for young people aged 11 to 18, plus teachers and educators

Arts for Sustainability – Enviroschools Wellington
$4,514.47 towards a one day music, video and mural workshops exploring sustainability

Tivaevae workshop – Hutt Valley Cook Islands Association Incorporated
$3,683.00 towards a series of tivaevae (Cook Islands quilting) workshops

Kate Sanders O'Connor – Arts on High, Music and Movement   
$2,966.00 towards Individual music therapy sessions to people with high needs in the Hutt valley.                          

Polyfest 2015 – Koraunui School                              
$4,729.00 towards staging the Polyfest 2015 festival at Walter Nash Stadium.

Melling skate park –  Melling project ink artist                  
$2,291.00 towards six murals for the Melling skate park

Beauty and the Beast  – Musical Stars Performance Trust                            
$1,520.00 towards staging ‘Beauty and the Beast’, a musical theatre performance by children from Hutt City and Wellington              

Indian Classical Dance production – Natraj School of Dance                        
$4,740.50 towards staging an Indian classical dance production at the Little Theatre.       

Studio Sasada – Studio Sasada Concert
$800.00 towards staging a concert with Studio Sasada students at the Little Theatre.      

Ukulele for All – The Hutt Valley Ukulele orchestra                         
$800.00 towards running ukulele classes including vocal lessons.                              

Singing with Soul Connection – Thumbs UP Charitable Trust                       
$2,400.00 towards a 30 week programme of singing workshops for Thumbs Up members and their networks, culminating in performances.

Westpac Stadium Community Mural Project – Wellington Regional Stadium Trust           
$2,608.70 towards Hutt City young people and others from the Wellington region to work with high profile artists to paint a series of murals at the Westpac Stadium.           

Youth carving project – Youth Inspire  
$2,401.00 towards a carving project with Wainuiomata youth led by local carver Rikki Porter-Samuels.

Media Release: Hutt City Council
28/05/2015