FUNDING & SUPPORT
Welcome to the Application page for ÅrÄkei Local Board Community Arts Broker Grants.
You can GO DIRECTLY TO THE FORM or read on for more information and guidelines about how to apply for funding. 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.
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We invite Expressions of Interest (EOI) for FUNDING for community arts projects in ÅrÄkei. All projects with a community arts focussed between Sept 2025 and July 2026 are eligible. We are funded by ÅrÄkei Local Board via Auckland Council funding, so our budgets must fit in with their dates for the year.
Applications are currently open, you can contact us anytime about supporting a project.
To submit a proposal, tell us:
- what your idea is, who's involved, when you plan to do it, and what the community involvement or outcomes are.
- a budget
âBefore you fill out the application form, check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for details on how to apply. Make sure you read the question - ÅrÄkei Local Board Objectives to help explain how your project aligns strategically.
APPLY HERE – fill out the one-page online form.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT AND WHO ARE COMMUNITY ARTS BROKER GRANTS FOR?
The ÅrÄkei Local Board Arts Broker Grants is a small fund designed to respond to local creative arts activities and ventures. We help support community art events, artist workshops, theatrical and musical productions, festivals, public artworks, development opportunities, weekly meet-ups, kapa haka, rangatahi and 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 ÅrÄkei 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.
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WHO IS ÅRÄKEI LOCAL BOARD?
ÅrÄkei local board are your democratically elected representatives for the ÅrÄkei region, this includes the suburbs of Glendowie, St Heliers, Kohimarama, Mission Bay, ÅrÄkei, Meadowbank, St Johns, Stonefields, Ellerslie, Remuera. Check the Local Board Finder online using your address.
WHAT ARE THE ÅRÄKEI LOCAL BOARD OBJECTIVES FOR 2025/6?
Outcomes sought by the ÅrÄkei Local Board
The ÅrÄkei Local Board have identified outcomes towards making ÅrÄkei a better place to live and work. You can read about these in the ÅrÄkei LOCAL BOARD PLAN.
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ÅrÄkei Local Board has expressed a commitment to:
• Connect communities through the arts
• Support youth in activities that meet young people’s interests
• Showcase Auckland's MÄori identity and vibrant MÄori culture
• Deliver services that enhance identity, connection, and participation
• Ensure aging residents remain connected and feel positive
• Be proactive in reaching diverse communities
AM I ELEGIBLE?
All projects must benefit people living and working in ÅrÄkei. Anyone living or working in ÅrÄkei is elegile to apply, in some cases you may include people with expertise from outside the area, or collaborate with people from other areas to bring art and cultural experience to the people of ÅrÄkei.
CAN I GET HELP FILLING IN THE FORM?
Yes. Sometimes application forms do your head in. Email the Arts Broker, Stephen on orakeiarts@gmail.com to get help filling in the form, or developing your idea to express yourself clearly.
DO YOU HAVE TIPS ON WRITING A GOOD PROPOSAL?
YES. Your project should:
- 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.
ARE THERE OTHER PLACES I CAN GET FUNDING.
The ÅrÄkei Local Board offers general local board grants rounds available throughout 2025 & 2026, read more and apply to them HERE.
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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.. â