$70k grant for Rotorua arts community

Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust chairman Stewart Edward (left) and deputy chairman Tamati Coffey. Photo/File

A $70,000 grant will help to enrich Rotorua's arts community, through scholarships for individuals to pursue their dreams and funding to help increase the arts offering in the city.

The Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust has provided the grant to the Rotorua Civic Arts Trust, enabling the Arts Trust, in turn, to support arts groups through a multitude of smaller grants.

Rotorua Civic Arts Trust spokeswoman Margaret Baker said many successful Rotorua performers had received Arts Trust funding at some time for various projects, and the generous Rotorua Trust donation would allow them to help even more.

She said the funding would be used for grants under $5000 and individual scholarships of $500 and under.

Mrs Baker said the Arts Trust was made up of trustees with a background and deep interest in the arts, which made them ideally placed to consider the applications and ensure the money went to areas of most benefit.

"Without the grant from Rotorua Trust, the Rotorua Civic Arts Trust would not be able to support all the projects it does.

"Grants cover a wide range of seminars and workshops, through to performances and exhibitions in all art forms. Grants have assisted authors publish books in hard copy and online with subjects covering historical biographies to children's stories and interactive online books.

"We also support schools with art projects, stage challenge, performances and art programmes."

Rotorua Trust chairman Stewart Edward said the funding demonstrated the Trust's collaborative approach and by working through the Arts Trust, Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust could make a meaningful difference to the arts community in Rotorua.

"Through the Arts Trust, we can help support a wide range of people in the community who are involved in the arts sector - from organisations hosting competitions to individuals pursuing their passion."

The $70,000 grant for the Arts Trust was one of 18 grants approved in July, worth $374,288.

Other grants include $8000 to help Central North Island Boxing host the New Zealand Boxing Championships, $10,000 for the Youth Projects Trust to host a Manaakitanga programme and $9000 to help Reporoa College buy kayaks for the community water safety programme.

"We are a community-focused not-for-profit organisation with the aim of creating a better Rotorua for all and the diversity of the latest round of grants highlights the diversity of the projects we support."

Rotorua Trust Grants Approved July 2017

Central North Island Boxing - hosting NZ Boxing Championships - $8000
Empowered Learning Trust - vision and auditory testing - $20,000
Get Kids Active Charitable Trust - Tough Guy Tough Gal Challenge - $5000
Homedale Kindergarten - heat pump and vegetable garden - $5000
LakesWater Quality Society - water quality symposium - $4000
Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ - stress reduction course - $3600
No. 3 District Federation - coaches' training, and equipment - $6000
Pathways Kindergarten - heat pumps - $10,000
Reporoa College - kayaks for community water safety programme - $9000
Rotorua Civic Arts Trust - towards arts grants - $70,000
Rotorua East Kindergarten - wet weather gear for kids - $953
Rotorua Lakes High - Role Model Students - $3000
Rotorua Secondary Schools - for co-curricular activities - $135,342
Rotorua Lakes Council - cultural learning centre for new library - $50,000
Ruamata Marae - fire sprinklers for wharekai - $18,000
Sport BOP - community leisure programme - $15,000
Victim Support - new laptop - $1393
Youth Projects Trust - Manaakitanga programme - $10,000