Music, print making, to film making and movement. Nine exciting new arts and cultural activities will be funded across the NSW Central West through the Arts OutWest Cultural Fund Microgrants.
Funded activities range from drumming workshops in Forbes, to classical music performances in Bathurst and Orange, to a Lithgow festival celebrating fashion. There’ll be a film made about artists in Hill End and a choreographed physical theatre work with children Hartley. Two workshops programs (Grenfell and Bathurst) will focus on print making, Orange will host a choral workshop, while the annual Newbridge Art Show will be supported.
This small funding supports locally driven creative activity across the region and is offered thanks to generous donations from the public.
There were 32 applicants to the 2026 round, requesting a total of $68,832 in support with just $12,000 to share. Whilst applications were received from across the region, as an interesting indication of a growing creative workforce in the Lithgow area, 20% of the applications came from the Lithgow LGA.
Individuals could apply for up to $1000 with groups able to apply for up to $2500.
“We want to stress that our microgrants programs always attracts far, far more quality ideas than we have funds for. The Central West is rich with talent, ideas and passionate communities ” said Arts OutWest chair Jonathan Llewelyn, “There were many amazing applications from communities across the region that couldn’t be met this round only because our funding for grants is so small.”
“The Arts OutWest team will continue to look at the as-yet-unfunded activities to see what other ways we can support them,” said Arts OutWest executive director Kylie Shead. “We are very open to partnering with local service or community groups to help fund some of these additional projects, and welcome anyone getting in touch.”
For the recipients, the small grants now mean they can get activities off the ground. The first funded activity will be Gang Gang Gallery’s ‘Lithgow Fashion Week – Underpinning Fashion, the inside story’ running 14-16 May.
In the town of Grenfell the local art group will focus on ‘broadening creative capacity’ with an expert helping members build on their printmaking skills.
“Thankyou for this amazing grant,” said Di Franks from Grenfell Artists. “It will have lots of impacts in both Grenfell Artists and our wider community… We appreciate how much you do for rural and regional art, culture and artists and you seem to produce miracles on the ‘sniff of an oil rag’ (as the saying goes).”
With the state government funded Country Arts Support Program ending last year, Arts OutWest funded this new program from more than $5000 in community donations, matched by their own funds.
Applications were assessed by a panel including members of the Arts OutWest Board (who manage the Arts OutWest Cultural Fund) and external regional experts.
Arts OutWest is the regional arts development organisation for the NSW Central West supported by the NSW Government (Create NSW), the Australian Government (IVAIS), 12 local governments and Charles Sturt University.
Donate to the Arts OutWest Cultural Fund HERE
Contact Arts OutWest on 02 6338 4657 or artsoutwest@csu.edu.au
List of grant recipients: Arts OutWest Cultural Fund Microgrants, 2026
| Watershed Dance Collective Project: Let’s Fly Location: Hartley. Description: A three-day choreographic development of Let’s Fly – a new physical theatre work for children aged 4-8, held at Hartley Community Hall. Local dance artists Julian and Renata work intensively with acclaimed choreographer Sue Healey research movement language, with open classes and a community showing. When: 5-7 June 2026 Amount: $2150. LGA: Lithgow. |
| Grenfell Artists Incorporated Project: Broadening Creative Capacity Location: Grenfell. Description: A project to give local artists the opportunity to build upon their current mixed media and collage skills and printmaking activities undertaken during 2025-2026 including monoprinting and the creation of artist books to further develop their expertise in using mixed media materials. Amount: $1950 LGA: Weddin. |
| Hill End Arts Council Project: The Living Artists of Hill End Documentary Film Location: Hill End. Description: A short documentary featuring the living artists of Hill End, filmed by local documentary maker Henry Simmons for permanent installation at the Hill End Art Gallery. When: June to October 2026. Amount: $2000 LGA: Bathurst. |
| June Golland Project: Lino Printing Workshops Location: Bathurst. Description: June Golland is a printmaker-trained artist. She will run eight fortnightly workshops for five emerging and returning artists in Bathurst. Sessions take participants from image conception through to printing and editioning, using a community press entrusted to June by the late local printmaker Judy Thatcher. When: July to October 2026. Amount: $850 LGA: Bathurst |
| Allegri Singers Inc Project: Christmas With Bach in Orange Location: Orange and Bathurst. When: November 2026 Description: A blockbuster concert of the awe-inspiring works of Johann Sebastian Back including cantanas from the Christmas Oratorio, the Brandberg Concerto, and organ works. Amount: $1000 LGA: Orange and Bathurst. |
| Gang Gang Gallery Project: Lithgow Fashion Week – Underpinning Fashion, the inside story Location: Lithgow. Description: The Gang Gang Gallery is presenting Lithgow Fashion week, celebrating and promoting the history of the garment industry in Lithgow and the women who made a significant contribution to the town’s economy. This year showcasing Berlei and the local fashion makers and garment industry specialists. When: 16-24 May 2026 Amount: $750 LGA: Lithgow. |
| Orange Male Voice Choir (OMVC) Project: Orange Community Vocal Workshop – with Paul Jarman Location: Orange. Description: A choral workshop in Orange with OMVC Patron and renowned musician/ composer Paul Jarman. Singers and choirs from Orange and surrounds will be invited to participate to refine choral skills and benefit from the experience and dynamic presentation of one of the leading practitioners in the field. When: June 19, 2026 Amount: $400 LGA: Orange. |
| Galari River Arts Fest Project: 44 Gal Drumming for Galari River Arts Festival Location: Forbes. Description: In the lead up to this year’s Galari River Arts Festival, musician Rob Shannon will run a series for drum workshops to train and coordinate the volunteer festival drummers. Workshops will be two hours over six weeks. When: July-August 2026. Amount: $2400 LGA: Forbes. |
| Newbridge Art Show Inc Project: Spring into Art at Newbridge 2026 Location: Newbridge. Description: Spring into Art at Newbridge encompasses art, music and history, centred on the historic village. The event is a collaboration between the Newbridge Art Group Space, Newbridge Camera Clun and village businesses. When: October 15-18 Amount: $500 LGA: Blayney. |
Image: Artists Renata and Julian from Watershed Collective run the A Let’s Fly workshop at Hartley Discovery Day / credit Cazeil Creative.