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Dunedin City Council – Kaunihera-a-rohe o Otepoti

Professional theatre fund application

Last updated: 25 Sep 2025 3:44pm

Professional theatre fund applications must be submitted using the online form; late and/or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

The Professional Theatre Fund helps support professional theatre-making in Dunedin. This funding can assist with the costs of the creation and/or presentation of high-quality, new work from established theatre practitioners and organisations. Priority will be given to projects that involve local practitioners and content; presentation of work outside Ōtepoti cannot be funded.


Important Information About Applying For A Grant

  • Please complete one application form for each project and attach ALL supporting documents to this form
  • We recommend you contact us before you send us your application; this is essential if you intend to apply for more than one project through this fund. We can give you advice and support for your project and help you apply – email aratoi@dcc.govt.nz or phone 03 477 4000.
  • If you have received a DCC grant before and have not completed the Report Back Form for it, you will not be able to apply for another grant from us. Please complete the Grants Report Back Form

  • Start application here

    1. Start

    • Type your email address in the box underneath these instructions.
    • Ensure you allow pop-ups for this browser while completing this form; error messages may appear as pop-ups.

    TIP:  Save your responses in a word document to then paste into the application form when ready.

    2. Save progress: you can start your application now, save it, and finish it later.

    • Check that you have entered your email address.
    • Click the Save progress and Exit button.
    • We will send you an email containing a link and a password.
    • If you do not receive a confirmation email please contact us.
    • Save this email and use the link and password to return to your saved application as required.
    • Check that any uploaded files are still attached.
    • NOTE: this does NOT submit your application to DCC.

    3. Submit application

    • Click the Submit button after you have completed your application form and attached your files - this submits your application to DCC.
    • A thank-you page will appear - we recommend printing this page as a copy of your completed application.
    • We will send you an email to confirm that we have received your application - the confirmation will also contain a copy of your application.
    • If you do not receive a confirmation email or have any problems sending us your application, please contact us.

    (please type in a valid email address - name@domain (eg name@name.co.nz, name.name@name.org etc)

  • About your project

    Tell us the addresses and postcodes where your project will take place. If your project is city-wide please write Dunedin City.
    Tell us about the people creating the project and your audience. (150 words)
    What do you want to do? (250 words)
    How will the project happen? (250 word)
    Tell us about the key people and/or the groups involved. (250 words)
    Tell us how this project will meet the Professional Theatre Fund criteria.(250 words)
    Please explain how DCC’s funding will be acknowledged (max 150 words).

    Evidence of previous practice and/or community support

    Please attach letters of support from individuals and local, regional or national organisations. It is useful to include evidence of the success of previous work such as audience feedback, media coverage, reviews. You can attach these in the last section of this form.

  • About your budget

    For the Professional Theatre Fund, you must contribute at least 30% of the cost of the project for which you are applying. Contributions can include donated materials and professional services

    You can download this worksheet and enter the Project Costs and Income into the worksheet. Transfer the Total Project Costs (A) and Total Project Income (B) figures into the fields below

    Professional Theatre Project Costs and Income Worksheet (excel, 12kb, new window)

    Save and name the worksheet with your organisation's name. You can use this worksheet or if you have your own budget document please upload the completed worksheet in the last section of this form.

    MINUS
     

    (250 words)

    (eg: donations or crowdfunding) and how much do you expect to raise? (max 150 words).

    Organisation Amount received
    Organisation Amount requested but not yet received
    Have you received funding through DCC Grants in the past 3 years? *(required)

    Financial Accounts: 
    Please attach your organisation’s latest accounts e.g. balance sheet, statement of income and expenditure, or latest audited accounts. Financial information must show income from other funders e.g. Dunedin City Council, Child, Youth and Family Contracting Group, Southern District Health Board, Community Organisation Grant Scheme (COGS), Work and Income NZ, Community Corrections, Lottery Board, Creative New Zealand, Philanthropic Trusts. You can attach these in the last section of this form.

    Please tell us your bank details:
    This is the account we will pay your grant into, if your application is successful. 

    If you are a new applicant or have had a change to the bank details previously provided please supply a copy of your bank details as verification. This can be a bank deposit slip, print from a bank statement or image of online bank details. Please upload a copy of this in the Declaration, checklist and attachments section of this form.

    Bank *(required)Branch*(required)Account*(required)Suffix*(required)

    (if applicable). You do not have to be registered to receive a grant.

  • About your organisation

    If you have changed your name in the last year, please tell us your old name too.
    Postcode Finder (new window)
    Tell us the web address for your project. You can include your organisation's website and social media links.

    Primary contact person:
    Please check your email address regularly, as we may ask you for more information about your application.

    (please provide the name and contact phone number of an alternate contact in case the applicant is unavailable)
    Or you can attach this information as a supporting document in the Declaration, checklists and supporting documents section of this form (200 words)

  • Declaration, checklist and supporting documents

    Please attach the documents to your application.

    We recommend that you upload/attach the files at the end of the application, just before submitting the form if you are using the 'Save Progress and exit' option.

    (maximum file size 7MB)

    Upload all other documents
    (The documents can also include financial accounts, evidence of community support or previous practice, or any other information you want to support your application.)

    (maximum file size 7MB)
    (maximum file size 7MB)
    (maximum file size 7MB)
    (maximum file size 7MB)
    Have you *(required)

    Has your organisation been subject to enforcement or received a request for abatement in relation to non-compliant activities *(required) This could include Resource Consents, Licensing and Compliance, Health and Safety or Building Control

    I declare that the above information is correct. If my application is successful, my organisation agrees to abide by the terms and conditions *(required)

    Funding and Grants Terms and Conditions
    please download and read the Terms and Conditions, and acknowledge

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