Nau mai,
haere mai
Kōkiri nei te tū tangata mo ngā iwi katoa.
To strengthen a unified stance for all people in our communities.
Who we are
Creative Waikato is a not-for-profit Regional Arts Organisation. We are an organisation focused on capability building in the arts, culture and creative ecosystem of Waikato.
We are working towards a vision for a Waikato region that thrives with diverse and transformative creative activity.
With that in mind, our purpose is to serve as navigators who lead the elevation of creativity in our region and collaborate to provide opportunities for cultural wellbeing.
We serve as strategic advisors, advocates, and supporters of people and communities in the Waikato region who want to make the world a better place through creative activity.
Which builds
toward our vision:
Waikato thrives
with diverse and
transformative
creative activity
We want arts, culture and creativity.
Everywhere. All the time.
And informs
who we are:
Navigators who lead the elevation of creativity in our region and collaborate to provide opportunities for cultural wellbeing
We’re grounded by four pou (pillars) which guide our mahi
Elevate
Hāpai
We help you succeed through advice, training and support.
Connect
Tūhono
We connect you with the right people and places for stronger creative outcomes.
Amplify
Whakarahi
We share stories far and wide and drive engagement with creative activity.
Advocate
Taunaki
We stand up for arts, culture and creativity as they are essential to the wellbeing of our region.
How we are funded
To do what we do, we’re grateful to have the generous support from our community.
What our funding looks like:
80
%
20
%
Primary Funder
Trust Waikato
For the benefit of people in our region, Trust Waikato donates money to community organisations and projects that focus on welfare, sport, recreation, youth, art, culture, and the environment. Trust Waikato shares our vision for a strong and thriving arts sector that benefits the entire community. Trust Waikato support the core business of Creative Waikato to work towards our strategic vision.
Core Funders
Hamilton City Council
The vision for Hamilton includes being a city where our people thrive, being a fun city with lots to do, and having a central city where our people love to be. Arts, Culture and Creativity should be at the core of that. Hamilton City Council works with Creative Waikato to support this shift in our city. HCC funds Creative Waikato to support the local arts community of Kirikiriroa, as well as administering the Creative Communities Scheme fund.
WEL Energy Trust
WEL Energy Trust generously supports Creative Waikato through its Community Support funding. This is in contribution to our core strategic vision and mahi.
Additional Project
Funders
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Manatū Taonga is leading a suite of initiatives in partnership with its funded agencies and sector stakeholders to deliver this $374 million of funding over four years. This funding includes both short-term relief, and longer-term support allowing people and organisations to survive, adapt and thrive. This includes some enhanced capability development programmes for the Waikato region, and a cultural activator pilot role in South Waikato.
Creative New Zealand
For the benefit of all New Zealanders, Creative New Zealand encourages, promotes and supports the arts through funding, capability building, international programmes, and advocacy. Previous Creative NZ project support has included initiatives like regional capability building, youth development, performing arts creative mentoring, and audience development work.
Ministry of Social Development
Engaged for a two-year pilot programme called ‘Creative Careers’. The Creative Careers Service is a Government initiative to help creatives gain and retain work in the creative sector. The service aims to develop the complementary skills, knowledge and networks needed to grow opportunities and turn talent into a viable career. This is our ELEVATE programme.
Our region
We’re Waikato proud, with open arms that extend across the mighty region.
Iwi
Aligning with the traditional Māori boundaries of Tainui — Waikato, Raukawa, Maniapoto and Hauraki iwi.
- Waikato
- Raukawa
- Maniapoto
- Hauraki
Local Government
The mahi we do currently flows through:
- Kirikiriroa/Hamilton City
- Thames-Coromandel District
- Hauraki District
- Matamata-Piako District
- South Waikato District
- Waipā District
- Waikato District
- Ōtorohanga District
- Waitomo District
- Ruapehu District