NEWS RELEASE
22/12/09

Grants worth more than $4 million were awarded to applicants from the arts and culture sector when ASB Community Trust held its last grants meeting for 2009.

At their December board meeting, Trustees agreed on grants including $150,000 for Auckland Theatre Company, $375,000 for the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, $150,000 for the Black Grace dance group, $120,000 for Dance Aotearoa, $90,000 for Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust, $75,000 for Artists Alliance and $225,000 for the Massive dance company.

Trust CEO Jennifer Gill said these groups had been given funding for operating costs and capacity building over the next 18 months, giving them sure funding for a longer period.

“The Trust aims to support creative projects and organisations that will foster access, engagement and experience in the arts,” she said. “These groups show clear alignment with our arts and culture strategy.”

Ms Gill said a number of other arts groups were granted funds for projects that will be increasing awareness and participation in the arts.

This included $177,000 to the Royal New Zealand Ballet to tour Auckland and Northland, $150,000 to the Arts Regional Trust for its business development programme and $150,000 to the Auckland Festival Trust for programming and planning costs as it prepares for its 2011 event.

Silo Theatre Trust has been granted $100,000 for its 2010 programme and Playmarket will be able to develop a Māori and Pacific Island involvement strategy with part of its $90,000 grant.

The Auckland Writers and Readers Festival will use its $85,000 grant to plan for its 2010 festival and DOCNZ Festival Trust has been granted $80,000 as it plans for its next documentary film making festival in Auckland. The New Zealand Dance Festival Trust was granted $80,000 as it prepares for the Tempo 10 festival and the Auckland Festival of Photography got $60,000 in the lead-up to its 2010 event.

Meanwhile the Ugly Shakespeare Company was granted $61,000 as it prepares for its 15th tour of Northland and Auckland and Tim Bray Production’s children’s theatre received $60,000 towards its 2010 productions.

Other grants included $50,000 for the Bay of Islands Arts Festival, $50,000 for Northland Craft Trust, $50,000 for Touch Compass Dance and $40,000 for Manukau City Orchestra. A full list of grants is on ASB Community Trust’s website: http://www.asbcommunitytrust.org.nz/Grants-list-December.html

ENDS

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