Creative arts festival requesting $25k

The Wairarapa Arts Festival Trust has asked Masterton District Council to put $25,000 towards the inaugural Kokomai Creative Festival.

The trust will make a submission to council to receive funding as part of its annual plan for 2013/2014.

Kokomai will be held this year from October 18-27.

The Wairarapa-wide creative festival was launched in November 2012 with the aim of providing a platform to showcase the diverse artistic talents of people in the region.

It will be held at various venues, including rugby club rooms and galleries, and will feature a series of workshops and performances of music, visual arts, film, dance, theatre, culinary arts and literature.

In a submission made to the draft annual plan, trust chairman James Smallwood said a number of "exciting, creative events and shows will be hosted in Masterton".

He said Masterton Town Hall had been booked as a community stage to host free events, an international music act had been contracted to perform, a travelling show would also perform and there would be numerous umbrella events and free workshops for residents to attend.

"In addition to these events the creative team is investigating additional shows to be held at various interesting locations in and around Masterton," Mr Smallwood said.

The festival has received $50,000 to date in funding from Trust House, Eastern and Central Community Trust, Greytown Trust Lands Trust and Carterton District Council.

In addition, further funding has been received from corporate sponsors and private funding from benefactors and patrons.

The submission, expected to be presented by Mr Smallwood, will be heard on May 28 before the annual plan is adopted on June 26.