A grant of $85,000 will help deliver the Wānaka Festival of Colour in 2025 and Aspiring Conversations in 2026.

The two festivals have been fixtures in Wānaka in autumn for more than a decade, bringing a range of arts performances and topical speakers from far and wide.

During Aspiring Conversations in April this year Wānaka Festival of Colour festival director Sophie Kelly said the festival was facing “challenging times”.

“As a festival and speaking on behalf of many arts organisations around the country, this time at the moment is looking quite scary for us all,” she said. 

Read more: Festival of Colour facing hard financial times

Following the grant announcement this week Wānaka Festival of Colour executive director Ruth Heath thanked the OCT for helping to make future festivals possible.

“This support will help us deliver another spectacular Wānaka Festival of Colour and Aspiring Conversations, ensuring our programmes remain diverse and accessible with a wide range of events for all to enjoy.

“We are very grateful to receive funding from the Otago Community Trust.”

In a statement the OCT said the “cornerstone events” bring “world class performances and thought provoking discussions to the Upper Clutha”.

Other local groups also received funding in OCT’s September funding round.

A $15,000 grant to the Upper Clutha History Society (for a digital media project) and a $5,000 grant to Wānaka Primary School (for outdoor equipment) brought the trust’s contribution to Wānaka groups in the round to more than $100,000 - around a fifth of its total grants for the month.

"From conservation efforts to supporting accessible arts and community services, this funding round reflects our commitment to enhancing the wellbeing and vibrancy of our Otago communities," OCT chair Andy Kilsby said. 

"We look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition and the positive impact they will have on our region."

PHOTO: Wānaka App