Enliven Places Projects Fund

Diverse, innovative, experimental and amenity-enriching projects create buzz, improve wellbeing, offer a much-needed point of difference and builds on Christchurch’s reputation as a place for people, as well as a place in which businesses establish more easily.                                       

This small grant fund provides support to those seeking to temporarily turn vacant spaces – for example land awaiting development, buildings awaiting tenants, walls, hoardings and windows – into spaces that are vibrant, enlivened, greened or otherwise publicly activated. These activations are for public good and will take place while longer-term uses or tenancies are being determined, or works are yet to commence.

Projects will be considered that are well-planned and have partnerships in place.

To be eligible for this fund, proposed projects must demonstrate how they meet the below criteria:

• Attract residents and visitors through the use of a vacant space (site or building) to support regeneration and the return of businesses (must be able to attract at least 200 people for grants of less than $5000 and 500 people for grants over $5000)
• Support activities and initiatives that reflect Christchurch’s unique identity
• Create vibrancy and improve the environment, experience and activity for residents, visitors and businesses
• Will “activate” vacant space awaiting development (e.g. whether vacant land awaiting development, buildings awaiting tenancy, walls facing vacant site) for primarily public benefit
• Support central city and suburban centres through forming clusters of activity
• Where projects are delivered in buildings awaiting longer-term tenants, projects will support increased foot traffic and patronage for neighbouring businesses
• Offer added value: such as potential for extended duration, innovation, diversity and significant private partnership
• Project will be delivered within four months of grant payment
• Must achieve a creative, high quality outcome

Vacant sites may be identified by and brokered through Life in vacant spaces(external link). Legal access agreements and access to public liability insurance are also available.

The Council provides an incentive to encourage temporary use of vacant land and buildings, this enables offsetting of rates for sites used for temporary projects. See our rates incentive for property owners.