The Wānaka Arts Society is one of three local organisations to receive support from the Otago Community Trust (OCT) September grants round, with $3,100 going towards its ‘Arts Alive’ Labour Weekend exhibition (October 21-24). 

The annual exhibition is the society’s “cornerstone event of the year” and this year 11 guest artists will be working live on-site throughout the weekend.

“The society believe the arts are very much alive in their community and look forward to showcasing this,” OCT communications and marketing coordinator Melanie McAtamney said. 

OCT funding of $10,300 will also help Snow Sports NZ hold its Junior Freestyle Nationals event at Cardrona Alpine Resort, and a grant of $17,000 will get Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust’s volunteer quarters underway. 

A concept plan for the stage two upgrades to the Te Kakano nursery. IMAGE: Supplied

Te Kākano nursery currently has one shipping container which acts as both storage space and the nursery manager's office, but the purchase of a second container will create a kitchen for the nursery’s volunteers. 

As well as OCT, the project has been supported by Sargood Bequest, Central Lakes Trust, Rotary Club of Wānaka and the Aspiring Lions Club. 

A roof structure will also be fitted between the two containers to create a “much needed sheltered working space for nursery volunteers,” Mel said. 

Te Kākano currently holds bi-weekly nursery sessions year-round and it has around 120 regular nursery volunteers.

The first stage of Te Kākano’s nursery development project, the expansion of the nursery, was completed last year, and this second stage works to improve the facilities.

Twenty-three other organisations around Otago received funding from the OCT September funding round.

The OCT is a philanthropic organisation which applies its trust funds to benefit the Otago community and the trust has granted more than $185M since its inception.