Central Otago locals with a creative idea or a sports team needing help getting to competitions could be in line for funding support, with two national schemes now open for applications.

Central Otago District Council (CODC) is overseeing the latest funding rounds for the Creative Communities Scheme and Sport New Zealand Rural Travel Fund, both of which support grassroots initiatives in the region.

Approximately $14,000 is available through the Creative Communities Scheme, a Creative New Zealand initiative aimed at fostering local arts and cultural projects.

CODC community and engagement manager Paula Penno said money would be allocated towards community artistic or cultural events and projects that encourage the promotion of arts within the district.

“You can apply for support for materials for arts activities or programmes, venue or equipment hire, personnel and administrative costs for short-term projects, or promotion and publicity of arts activities,” she said.

Past recipients include a weaving workshop, Alexandra Musical Society’s production of Saturday Night Fever, a Winterstellar video project, and an art exhibition in a Bannockburn woolshed.

Meanwhile, nearly $20,000 is up for grabs through the Sport New Zealand Rural Travel Fund, boosted this year by a sizeable contribution from the Community Trust of Otago.

“The fund is designed to subsidise travel expenses for rural sports teams participating in local competitions,” Paula said.

“It focuses on junior and youth teams - ages 5 to 18 years - from rural sports clubs and schools.”

Both schemes are long-running partnerships between CODC and their respective national funders.

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