Community funding and use
You may be considering fund-raising or joint community use or ownership to enable you to build facilities that go beyond those provided by Ministry of Education funding. This section offers some advice on how to ensure that the facilities are designed and managed so that curriculum programmes in dance, drama, and music are well served.
If you are looking at developing a theatre or other facility that will have public use (and maybe public investment), you might be involving local organisations (such as theatre groups), businesses, councils, and parents. It is important that such people understand the requirements of The Arts in the New Zealand Curriculum.
There are many ways to involve school communities in building projects. Most commonly, funding is a significant driver. Typically:
- students and families raise funds
- ex-students raise or donate funds
- local businesses are approached for donations and/or sponsorship
- local bodies and/or community trusts are approached for grants
- local organisations (such as drama and music societies) are invited to use the facilities.
Third party occupancy
The Ministry of Education has a policy on third party occupancy of school facilities. (For more information, see the third party occupancy section of the 'Ministry of Education policies and guidelines' page in this website.)
Funding
The size and scope of a project can be expanded if significant grants or sponsorship can be obtained. Check out the 'Ministry of Education policies and guidelines' page for more information about use of grants and sponsorship.
Theatres
While it may seem obvious that students will benefit from such expanded facilities, such as large and well-equipped theatres, the reality is that not all such facilities are good for curriculum teaching – and access for classes is often compromised, both after hours and sometimes within school hours.