From 27 applications, ten arts projects across the NSW Central West shared $17,000 total in funding from the NSW Government’s annual County Arts Support Program (CASP).
“The demand for the funding was huge and the quality of applications very strong. It shows a healthy state of the local arts scene – although the funding we could offer is still inadequate for all the great proposals that came in.” – Arts OutWest Executive Director Kylie Shead.
Applicants could apply for up to $3000, with groups, councils, individuals, collectives and arts businesses eligible. Funds are primarily for the payment of artists and arts workers to undertake locally-developed arts activities.
The Country Arts Support Program is a devolved funding program coordinated locally by the 15 regional arts development organisations in NSW on behalf of the NSW Government. Applications are assessed locally by an external panel.
Arts OutWest value adds to the funded activities with an information session for recipients, providing an optional Media Associate to take photos for use by organisers, and focused promotion and storytelling about the projects via our enews, website and social media.
Since 2021 the NSW RADOs have also managed our own local CASP application process via Smartygrants (with the excellent support of Create NSW staff). The region’s CASP allocation hasn’t had any substantial increase in 20 years, so we continue to advocate to the NSW government for the continuation – and increase – of this extremely worthwhile funding.
CASP IN 2023
- $73,000 in applications
- 40% increase in applications from 2022
- 10 grants made
- $17,000 in grants allocated
- 290 participants / 5876 audience 73 paid artists / 67 un-paid artists 59 volunteers / 4953 volunteer hours
- $172,250 of regional economic activity.
Read more about CASP and Micro Grant funding at artsoutwest.org.au/small-grants
The projects and the outcomes
Acoustic Sunday 2023 Millthorpe. (Cabonne). $700. A series of six curated concerts once per month from May to October featuring original singer/songwriters and musicians.
“I see the CASP grant as a ‘sharing of the load’. This grant enables us to top up our artist fees and offer a guaranteed fee. It goes beyond that though. We don’t only receive the money, there is also a tonne of support and guidance provided by Arts OutWest as a part of the process.” – Genni Kane, Acoustic Sundays
“It is really important to us that all of our guests are paid properly. 100% of the CASP grant combined with ticket sales, has allowed us for the first time ever to be able to offer a guaranteed fee to all of our performers.””– Genni Kane, Acoustic Sunday, Millthorpe.
Building a Song at Portland. Applicant: Gabrielle Bates. Portland (Lithgow). $2000. Site-specific residency and performance at The Foundations of Portland. “Does a building have a voice?”
Holding On – Creating a Vessel for Emotions. Applicant: The Portland Workshops. Portland (Lithgow). $3000. In association with Rural Adversity Mental Health, participants were guided to mold clay into a vessel, symbolically containing their strongest emotions. In a second day they experienced the dramatic magic of raku firing. Engaged regional Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists for one month to collaboratively explore the question
Sharing music of the ‘Dunera’ boys. Applicant:Orange Orange Regional Museum collaborating with Orange Regional Conservatorium. $2500. ORC students and staff performed original music that was composed by Max-Peter Meyer during the Second World War on board the HMT ‘Dunera’ and during internment in camps in Australia. Culminated in two public performances at the ORM exhibition ‘Enemy Aliens’.
Playback-Kandos Museum. Applicant: Kandos Museum. (Mid-Western Region). $2000. Workshop series facilitated by Josie Cavallaro, inviting the community to listen to an audio description of an item from the museum. Participants then translated the item into physical form. Creations to be exhibited at Cementa 24.
China Painting Succession. Applicant: Lachlan Arts Council. Condobolin (Lachlan). $500. A workshop to give new comers, both young and adults, lessons in the old art of china painting which has been a strong part of the artistic life in Condobolin for over 40 years.
“This workshop [china painting] has expanded the numbers of people who are now attending on a regular basis. This workshop also gave young people the opportunity to explore the various aspects of an old craft.” – Lachlan Arts Council
Art Party at the Railway Station. Applicant: East Artists of Cowra East. $2000. Activating spaces at Cowra Railway Station with launch of the Wildflowers’ new album ‘Another Day In A Country Town’ (May) and exhibition of Brenda Stace Chat’s work (October).
“What we’ve appreciated about CASP… is that it is locally-administered, given thoughtfully to people to whom a little means a lot. For ACE, getting the CASP grant has been motivating, and has brought us together even more, giving us responsibility and focusing our efforts and ideas.” – Lucy Lehmann, Artists of Cowra East
“I was at The Wildflowers launch in the beautiful, cosy, rooms at the heritage Cowra Railway Station – it was a fantastic evening. Modest arts grants help individuals and their communities achieve such good things. “– Sami, on Facebook
Light Up the Night 2023 – Indigenous Narratives. Applicant: Weddin Shire Council. Grenfell (Weddin) $2500. Wiradjuri symbols accompanied by music and dreamtime stories / narratives incorporated into an 18-minute drone show (18 Feb 2023).
Carillon Open Day 2023. Applicant: Friends of the Bathurst War Memorial Carillion. $800. With the graduation of Bathurst’s first three Carillonists, an open day to encourage more local musicians to train to play this unique instrument.
A Brunch and Lunch Concert with Banjo Paterson. Applicant: Mulga Bill Festival Inc. Yeoval (Cabonne). $1000. To celebrate the anniversary of the birthday of Banjo Paterson. A day of bush poetry, prose, stories and music at the Banjo Paterson…. more than a Poet Museum on 19 February 2023.