The government-funded Creative Communities scheme is not being used enough in the Clutha district and more groups need to apply, councillors say.
The Creative Communities scheme provides support to arts and cultural activities which increase participation and diversity in the Clutha district.
An assessment committee of Clutha District Council, community, iwi and art representatives met four times a year to consider the applications.
Clutha Creative Communities chairwoman Cr Michele Kennedy was concerned some groups were not applying for funding. It was intended for new projects that community groups were yet to start rather than pre-existing ones.
If the groups "were not putting in for it, then it's hard to give out''.
"There is . . . nearly $7000 sitting there that you'd like to be able to see spent in our community.''
A council spokeswoman said there were two instalments of about $8900 allocated to the Clutha district in the past year.
Any unused money went back to the Creative Community scheme, and only 15% of that was allowed to be rolled back to the council for future allocations.
The next allocated application period closes in May.
Nine groups had applied for the current period, which closed last week. Only four applied for the previous period and two for the allocation before that.
