In March 2008, trustees approved a grant of $80,000 to be distributed amongst the community arts councils in Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes Districts for the purpose of promoting arts at a local level. The grant amount was based on $2 per head of population. In June 2011 this was increased to $100,000 per annum.

The four Community Art Councils within Central Lakes each administer their portion of the fund. Applications that meet the scheme’s criteria are eligible for grants up to $2,000 per project, and over the years has benefitted many arts projects and activities.