A 27 per cent increase for cultural projects is set to promote cooperation between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The funds will be used for projects like the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland, who will receive €100,000, with an additional €150,000 going to the Cooperation with Northern Ireland (CNI) scheme, which was expanded in January. ‘Irish culture extends across the whole island of Ireland,’ said Irish minister for arts, heritage regional, rural and Gaeltacht affairs Heather Humphreys. CNI provides funding for small-scale cultural projects that benefit both countries and encourage shared cultural experiences. More information is at ahrrga.gov.ie.
The next funding deadline for Creative New Zealand’s Arts Grants programme is 10 March. Applicants can apply for up to NZD65,000 (€43,240) for projects that directly benefit New Zealand’s creative sector, or NZD130,000 spread over two years for writers and illustrators. The projects must be completed within one year of the grant being awarded, and are only available to New Zealand citizens. For more information on eligibility, and for details of how to apply, visit the Creative New Zealand website at creativenz.govt.nz. CNZ is also inviting applications from established choreographers for its Creative New Zealand Choreographic Fellowship. Applicants should have produced a significant body of work. Grants up to the value of NZD100,000 (€66,080) are available to support new choreographic projects and/or programmes of activity. The scheme opened in mid-January 2017.
Malawi’s Nanzikambe Arts, headed up by managing director Chris Nditani, has secured MWK11,600 (€15,340) in funding from Hivos Regional Office and Hivos Malawi, through the Cultural Fund for Malawi, to support marginalised groups. Beneficiaries will include disability groups, female school leavers, young inmates at Mpemba Boys Home and vulnerable women. The project commenced in December 2016 and will last until November 2017, with groups participating in theatre workshops. Speaking to Nyasa Times, Nditani said: ‘During the last quarter of the training sessions, the trainees will come up with theatrical productions showcasing whatever they have learnt over the period. The aim of the project is to nurture a cadre of artists that could potentially co-mingle with Nanzikambe’s current crop of seasoned artists so as to sustain theatre arts industry in Malawi.
