Funding and Opportunities
Each year, the Whau Local Board supports creative projects that bring people together through art. Funded through the Whau Community Arts Broker, these projects celebrate what makes the Whau unique, share our many voices, and make sure the arts are for everyone.
The latest funding round is now closed. The next round will open in August 2026.
What area does the ArtsWhau funding cover?
Not sure if you are a ‘local’ to the Whau, or if your project will take place in the Whau? The Whau local board area includes New Lynn, Green Bay, Kelston, Rosebank, Avondale, New Windsor, Glenavon and Blockhouse Bay. Find out more about local boards here: https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/about-auckland-council/how-auckland-council-works/governing-body-wards-committees/wards/all-wards/Pages/whau-ward.aspx
What can I apply for?
You can apply for funding for a project in any art form; music, writing, visual arts, games, theatre, kapa haka, digital experiments, workshops, poetry, dance, film, food to walking projects (to name just a few past projects). What’s important is that the project:
– meaningfully involves local community and/or community themes
– is led by a local or someone with local connections
– has a strong creative idea behind it
– and takes place in the Whau Local Board area between October 2025 and June 2026.
Who can apply?
Individual creatives/artists; community groups; art collectives and organisations. Priority is given to projects which have a strong local community impact.
What will the funding cover?
ArtsWhau will pay for project management time, artist fees, project costs, access support, promotion, and manaakitanga. In previous years Arts Whau has funded between 12 and 17 projects a year and funding has ranged from $300 for a single workshop to $10,000 for a multi week multi artist project.
Need help with your proposal or idea?
Your Whau Community Arts Broker, Jody Yawa McMillan, works alongside local creatives and communities to spark ideas, bring projects to life, and help the arts thrive in the Whau.
Get in touch with Jody to kōrero. I’m here to support you through the proposal process from ‘idea’ to application.
broker@artswhau.org.nz
Jody: 0212453232
Get inspired by the creative projects Arts Whau have supported to date.
I’m ready, how do I apply?
To submit a proposal, you’ll need to let us know:
– what your idea is, who’s involved, when you plan to do it, and what the community involvement or outcomes are
– what the budget is and how much you would like to apply for
– any other support you think you may need
Your project must:
– have a creative idea driving it
– give equal weight to creative ideas and community benefit
– have strong local connections
– have some sort of community outcome
Proposals are due by 11.59pm on Monday 1st September and should be completed in the form below.
Other funding opportunities below:
The Whau Community Broker is here to assist creatives to find and secure funding from a range of sources. If you haven’t applied for funding to support your creative idea before, getting it all right can be difficult. I’m here to help you talk through your idea, think about what support you need and other less exciting things like budgets!
Creative Communities Scheme
Applications open from now to 15 August 2025