Country Arts Support Program 2020: Seven Central West NSW groups will share $18,911 in funding for small arts projects.
The seven successful local projects in the 2020 round of the Country Arts Support Program (CASP) have been announced.
Across the NSW Central West there was again a strong demand for the NSW government’s annual grants program with 20 community organisations requesting more than $50,000 in funds. Applicants could apply for up to $3000, with any not-for-profit group eligible.
CASP is a key regional arts funding program for NSW which provides support to employ artists in locally initiated arts and cultural projects.
The aim is to provide access to arts activities for regional communities, to encourage communities to work together on cultural projects, to foster cultural diversity in the region and to ensure that regional and rural areas have an artistic voice.
Funded projects in 2020 will be spread across the region and include:
- A series of skills workshops for visual artists in Canowindra
- Screen printing and Wiradjuri language activities in Forbes
- A local artists and farmer working with young people to create a mural in Tottenham
- Music recording and mixing tutorials for musicians in Orange
- Drumming and music activities for small children in Forbes
- Fibre weaving and art installation workshops with young people in Spring Terrace (near Orange)
- Creative arts activities for young women in the Bathurst area who identify as LGBTQIA
“These seven projects offer exciting opportunities to communities, arts makers and audiences in the region. They also provide employment opportunities to local artists and arts workers,” Arts OutWest Executive Director Tracey Callinan said.
These funded projects will employ nearly two dozen local, professional arts practitioners and utilise hundreds of volunteer hours. Almost all funds will be spent locally and the projects will also make use of in-kind goods and services from local councils, businesses and community groups.
“There was such a great range of applications for 2020, the quality of applications coming for our region continues to be strong each year, with many fantastic projects unable to be funded because the money only stretches so far,” Ms Callinan said.
“For those projects that missed out on funding we’ll continue to talk with applicants about other ways Arts OutWest can support them to make their ideas a reality,” Ms Callinan said.
Arts NSW’s Country Arts Support Program is a devolved funding program administered by Regional Arts NSW and local regional arts organisations on behalf of the NSW Government. Applications are assessed locally by a panel.
Arts OutWest is the regional arts development organisation, servicing the 11 local government areas of Bathurst Region, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Lithgow, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin.
More about CASP at: www.regionalartsnsw.com.au/grants/casp.html
All applicants should have now received a letter from Regional Arts NSW.
For successful applicants: Media and publicity information for Country Art Support Program recipients
2020 CASP Projects: Central West NSW
Canowindra Arts Incorporated: THE 1ST GIANT STEPS
The project will operate during 2020 in the village of Canowindra and will progressively introduce new artists to the base skills & knowledge required to become confident new artists. We will move participants from absolute beginner to basic competency by introducing the techniques & other basics skills required. Town: Canowindra. Funding: $1511
Lachlan Galari Reconcilliation Group: Marramarra Project
Marramarra calico bags will hold creative learning and Wiradjuri language activities and the bags will be printed with a design which will be coloured with fabric pens at community festivals and events. A local Artist will work with community to create a design for a silk screen, run screen-printing workshops. Town: Forbes. Funding: $2500
Tottenham Men’s Shed Inc: Tottenham Mens Shed, Historical Murals
To pay a Local Farmer/ Artist to work with the Tottenham Youth Club to paint Murals on an old garage that is part of the Tottenham Men’s Shed, which is situated in the centre of town. The Murals will reflect the history of the garage and the Tottenham district. Town: Tottenham. Funding: $3000
Forbes Birth to Kinder Incorporated: Thump Jump Rhyme
To bring professional percussion and drumming workshops to Forbes to enhance the capacity of educators and volunteers to share skills and knowledge with, and participate in, community groups and events. Town: Forbes. Funding: $3000
JAM Orange Inc: Recording and Mixing Tutorials
JAM Orange organises monthly Open Mic Nights enabling our local amateur musicians to develop their performance and songwriting skills. The next stage in this process is to provide workshop opportunities for these musicians to learn about the recording studio process with a focus on sound engineering and software techniques. Town: Orange. Funding: $2900
Spring Terrace Public School P&C Association: Spring Terrace Art Project
Local artists Christine and Lanny will run workshops during 2020 with the children and community of Spring Terrace themed on local birdlife and the community. Art installations will be painted, created and woven. A wall mural, totem poles and nesting art installations will be permanently incorporated into the school gardens. Town: Spring Terrace. Funding: $3000
Central West Women’s Health Centre: Express Yourself Youth Arts Program
The Express Yourself Arts program will assist young girls and women who identify with the LGBTQIA community to come together in the Central West Women’s Health Centre. Young participants will engage in a range of creative arts to build confidence, resilience and develop ongoing support, networks and friendships. Town: Bathurst. Funding: $3000
Image: JAM Orange’s Open Mic night at The Blind Pig in Orange, September 2019. Photo via Facebook.