Deadline: 15-Jul-22
The Manatu Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage is currently seeking applications for its Regional Culture and Heritage Fund (RCHF) to assist communities to meet genuine fundraising shortfalls for a range of capital projects at public: performing arts venues; museums; galleries; iwi museums/whare taonga; and/or heritage buildings housing significant collections.
Purpose
- The RCHF’s primary focus is to support capital projects outside the main centres (Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch).
- To clarify, projects located in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch metropolitan areas are able to apply to the RCHF. However, applicants from these areas should note that priority may be given to other competing projects which meet the RCHF criteria.
- Applications must relate to arts, culture and heritage facility projects focussed on renovating, restoring, adding to, and constructing buildings in which arts, culture and heritage activities take place. Examples of facilities that can qualify for funding under the RCHF are:
- performing arts venues
- museums
- art galleries
- buildings which will house collections of demonstrated importance to a region (e.g. heritage buildings or buildings at heritage sites where collections are or will be housed and exhibited)
- whare taonga.
What types of capital work qualify within the scope of the RCHF?
- Grants will be for the construction of new buildings and basic infrastructural redevelopment work to existing buildings which may include permanent/long-lived specialist fittings such as computerised plant and fixed audio-visual equipment to operate lighting and sound shows, energy-saving measures, security alarms, fire suppression, and environmental controls.
- Museums, Galleries and Theatres are places were crowds gather and things of value are housed.
- Seismic strengthening proposals to achieve higher than minimum standards will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Note the recommendations in the New Building Standards for public buildings assigned Importance Level 3 to such structures.
Eligibility Criteria
- Grants can only be made to legal entities (e.g. incorporated societies, charitable trusts and companies with charitable status). If the organisation making the application is not the land/or building owner, they must provide a letter from the legal owner(s) stating that they support the project and that the general public will have ongoing access to the building as described in the building application.
- The land and building owner must be either local government, a charitable trust, or an iwi post-settlement governance entity. If the organisation making the application is not the land/or building owner, they must provide a letter from the legal owner(s) stating that they support the project and that the general public will have ongoing access to the building as described in the building application.
- Applicants must also be able to demonstrate effective relationships with key stakeholders in the facility/venue and the wider community, including Māori, as appropriate.
- Funding will be dependent on evidence supplied in the application that the general public will have ongoing access to the building. Suitable trust arrangements must be in place to safeguard the use of public funds and the ongoing use of the facility.
- To be considered, all applicants must be able to demonstrate their good governance and stewardship of resources.
- Intending applicants should refer to the criteria document for more specific guidance information on these matters.
- This fund is not intended for institutions established by government departments.
For more information, visit https://mch.govt.nz/RegionalCultureHeritageFund