Country Arts Support Program: Eight local groups will share $23,812 in funding for small arts projects in 2021
Create NSW and Arts OutWest have announced the seven successful local projects in the 2021 round of the Country Arts Support Program (CASP).
CASP is a long-running small grants program of the NSW Government. It 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.
Applicants could apply for up to $3000, with any not-for-profit group eligible.
Funded projects in 2021 will be spread across the region and include:
- A Schools Eco Day and workshop for students in Parkes and Forbes shires
- A mural for the community hall at Adavale Lane Community Centre near Peak Hill
- The Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellows in residency at Cowra Civic Centre
- Parkes School of Dance Summer Series Workshops
- Arts programs for people in residential aged care in Oberon
- Lantern maker Phil Rilf, from Ikara Celebratory Events, with the Condo Sista Shed fibre artists in Condobolin
- Kristen’s Dance Studio will learn and perform traditional style Chinese dances at the Grazing Down the Lachlan in Forbes
- Lachlan Arts council will be holding a Pastel Workshop in Lake Cargelligo
“These eight 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 around 20 professional arts practitioners and utilise hundreds of volunteer hours. Much of the 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.
The Country Arts Support Program is a devolved funding program coordinated locally by the 14 regional arts development organisations in NSW on behalf of the NSW Government. Applications are assessed locally by a panel.
Projects funded in 2021 through the Country Arts Support Program: NSW Central West region
- Central West Lachlan Landcare Inc Embracing Enviro Art at Schools Eco Day ($2,992)
Schools Eco Day is expanding in 2021 and as part of this educational and fun day for Year 5 students in the Parkes and Forbes Shires. It will include an Eco Art workshop, showing children how plants can be used to decorate and embellish.
- Adavale Lane Community Centre Inc ‘Who we are and where we live’ cultural mural project ($3,000)
This project involves families working together on a grid mural for their community hall. Based on a collage of images from their farms, the design will be transferred on canvases by coordinating Visual Arts teacher, Danielle Diener, who will assist the community through teaching, to paint the canvas panels.
- Cowra Shire Council Residency – Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellows ($3,000)
Cowra Civic Centre will host Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellows for a one-week regional retreat residency in February 2021 in Cowra which will include masterclasses and a public performance.
- Parkes School of Dance Inc Summer Series Dance Workshops ($2,851)
Parkes School of Dance (PSD) will host the Summer Series Workshops in January 2021 in the PSD May Street Studios. Guest ballet and contemporary dance teachers will inspire and improve the students and teachers from our studio, as well as others in the region.
- Oberon Arts Council Inc Artist Chat ($2,983)
Participants who live in residential aged care will be in conversation with artists. The artists will discuss their work. The program will be delivered through video conferencing and be supported by a guide containing relevant links and information
- Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation Ltd Condo SistaShed Lantern Project ($3,000)
Deliver two separate workshops in 2021 by Lantern maker Phil Rilf, from Ikara Celebratory Events, with the Condo Sista Shed fibre artists. At these workshops the Sistas will learn how to design and make their own small and large sculptural lanterns and design a fire sculpture for SkyFest Miira Wirrabinya 2021.
- Forbes Arts Society Chinese Dragon Dance ($3,000)
Students from Kristen’s Dance Studio will learn and perform traditional style Chinese dances at the Grazing Down the Lachlan event on Saturday 18 September 2021, held on the banks of the Lachlan River nine miles west of Forbes.
- Lachlan Arts Council Outback Pastels by the Lake ($2,986)
Lachlan Arts council will be holding a Pastel Workshop with tutor Colin Darley from Shoalhaven for the local and surrounding district artists in Lake Cargelligo in Autumn in 2021.The pastel workshop will be an exciting and creative event for this remote community.
IMAGE: Parkes School of Dance summer workshops in January 2021. (Facebook)