Small grants supporting local arts activities with exciting creative outcomes
Arts OutWest Country Arts Support Program (CASP) is a small annual funding round supporting arts activities in the NSW Central West that offer exciting outcomes for communities and creatives. CASP funds the payment of artists and arts workers to undertake or manage arts activities in local communities.
CASP is devolved funding from the NSW Government through Create NSW.
The 2023 round will open Monday 24 October 2022 and close Monday 5 December 2022.
Applications open: 24 October 2022
Applications close: at 5pm on Monday 5 December 2022
Announcement of funded activities: December 2022.
Activities can run: 1 February 2023 – 31 December 2023.
Objective
The aim of the Arts OutWest Country Arts Support Program (CASP) is to support arts and cultural development in the NSW Central West through small grants.
CASP IN NSW
CASP is an annual small grants program devolved from the NSW Government through Create NSW.
It is guided by the NSW Government’s Arts Cultural Funding Program’s three major objectives:
- Grow creative leadership and programming excellence in NSW
- Strengthen NSW arts and cultural activity that drives community and social benefits
- Showcase NSW as a leader for strategic arts and cultural governance and strong financial management.
The fund is delivered in partnership with the 14 Regional Arts Development Organisations.
GOALS OF ARTS OUTWEST CASP 2023
- Generating arts* activities that have exciting creative outcomes
- Employment opportunities for artists and arts workers
- Opportunities for people across our region to access a diverse range of arts and cultural activity
- Enable locally determined arts and cultural activity
- Enable communities, collectives or artists to explore and express their cultural identities
- Bring social and economic benefits to communities through training, employment and new experiences
- Increase the sustainability and resilience of regionally based community arts organisations, businesses and creatives.
Grants can be for a maximum of $3,000.
Total funding pool: $17,000.
Applicants are urged to cost their projects accurately and ask only for what they need. Value for money will be a part of the assessment of the budget.
Please note there have been a few tweaks to the funding criteria and the application form for 2023, largely to clarify the requirements and simplify the application process:
- All funded activities require a public outcome** (see ‘definitions’ below)
- We have simplified the application process for individuals and groups by removing the requirement for an auspice/ funds manager.
- Financial statements no longer need to be provided by any applicants.
- We have clarified and simplified the section in the application for activities with an Aboriginal cultural element. The evidence of good consultation for these activities is now part of the assessment criteria.
- An activity can have multiple funding sources but if it’s part of a festival or other larger event, the CASP funded activity must be a new, defined, separate element.
- We’ve created a ‘how to’ worksheet for the budget section.
Eligible ACTIVITIES:
Activities occurring in the Arts OutWest service area, the LGAs of: Bathurst Region, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Lithgow, Mid-Western, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin.
Examples of eligible activities include (but are not limited to): Arts or heritage based workshops, classes, performances, installations, exhibitions, screen/film making, writing or composition, development of new work, tours or talks, artist-in-residence programs, recordings or podcasts, new arts activities attached to festivals or events – as long as they have some element of public outcome**.
In addition:
- CASP funding must be primarily used for the payment of artists’ or arts workers’ fees and expenses.
- If the activity in the application is part of a festival or other larger event, the CASP funded activity must be a defined, separate, stand-alone element.
- Activities with Aboriginal cultural elements must include either a letter of support or a reference contact from a suitable Aboriginal organisation, group or business. Refer to the Create NSW Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Protocol
- Commercial entities, arts business and those applying as individuals will need to show in the outline of their application that their proposed activity meets the essential criteria including “having a positive impact (cultural, social or economic) either on a regional community or on regional artists”, beyond the immediate financial benefit to their business or self.
- Activities must be covered by public liability insurance of the organisation, business or individual applying (see the FAQs for more info).
- Occur in the timeframe: 1 February 2023 – 31 December 2023.
Ineligible ACTIVITIES:
- Activities that have previously been funded through CASP
- Activities not occurring in the Arts OutWest region
- Activities in which the core activity does not benefit communities or artists in the Arts OutWest region
- Activities that are not primarily arts or cultural activities
- Competitions, prizes and adjudication fees
- General sponsorship of events
- Core administration costs of an organisation
- Activities that are part of the curriculum of schools
- Capital works
- Completed activities or activities that have already commenced
Eligible APPLICANTS:
- People or organisations whose residence or main place of practice is within one of the 12 council areas that make up the Arts OutWest region: Bathurst Region, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Lithgow, Mid-Western, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin.
- Not-for-profit organisations; ***Groups (including collectives); A local government authority; Arts-based businesses; Individuals.
- Applicants are required to discuss their proposal with Arts OutWest staff before applying.
Ineligible APPLICANTS:
- Based outside of the Arts OutWest region
- Organisations and bodies that are part of state or federal government
- Schools
- Applicants with overdue CASP or Create NSW funding acquittals (not including projects still to be completed)
- Applicants who have not discussed their application with Arts OutWest staff
Essential criteria:
After applications are checked for all eligibility requirements, they will be assessed for:
- Artistic and cultural merit.
- Potential to have a positive impact (cultural, social or economic) either on a regional community or on regional artists.
- Quality of planning and demonstration that the applicant has the capacity to deliver the project.
- Budgets offer financial value.
- Good community/ cultural consultation (if applicable).
Optional but desirable criteria:
- Activities develop partnerships or collaboration between groups/ artists/ organisations.
- Activities align with one of Arts OutWest’s current strategic focus areas: Aboriginal arts development; Arts and health; Cultural tourism; Music industry support; or core business of supporting arts and cultural development in the NSW Central West.
- Budgets show additional other income – either through cash or in-kind.
- Letters of support demonstrate need/ desire for the activity and the relevant support it will receive.
Assessment:
The funding panel, of at least 3 assessors, is made up of Arts OutWest Board members and external industry experts. Arts OutWest staff are not on the assessment panel.
After eligibility of the activity and the applicant has been checked, the external funding panel will assess and rank each application against the criteria listed above.
Applicants will be informed of the outcomes in December 2022.
- Read these guidelines to check you and your activity are eligible and a fit for the funding.
- Start an application at Smartygrants (you can download the application form and also save your work to come back later)
- Call or email Arts OutWest to discuss your application
- Complete the application including adding any letters of support, support materials or references.
- Submit your application by at 5pm on Monday 5 December 2022
All applicants are required to discuss their application with Arts OutWest before applying. Preferred communication for CASP enquiries and discussions:
Phone: (Monday-Friday) 02 6338 4657
Email: artsoutwest@csu.edu.au
If we are not at the phone when you call please leave a message with your name and contact details.
*Arts
’Arts’ includes all art forms and also activities with a history and heritage focus.
**Public outcomes
Public outcomes might include: workshops, classes, performances, public readings, screenings, parades, festivals, talks, exhibitions, demonstrations, installations, publications, events, radio broadcasts, podcasts, recordings, show-and-tell or similar.
The public outcome doesn’t need to be the full activity eg: an activity around script development or composing music might conclude with a short public reading or showing. An activity itself need not be ‘open to the public’ to have a public outcome eg: a workshop could be tailored to a targeted group of participants.
***Groups
For this application a group is two or more individuals working together on a project or program. Groups may be legally constituted or an informal working collaboration. They may be an entity that exists long-term, or a project specific association. It is recommended that a group have at least a simple formal agreement between members. Note that Public Liability insurance is required, and this may influence what type of entity you apply as. See the FAQ section from more information.
Find more useful arts industry terms defined in the Create NSW Arts and Funding Program Glossary
I’m not in the Arts OutWest service area. How can I apply for CASP?
CASP is an annual program funded by the NSW Government through Create NSW and managed locally by the network of Regional Arts Development Organisations (RADOs). Each RADO runs a different CASP timeframe depending on local needs. Find your local RADO here.
Why do I need to discuss my application with Arts OutWest before applying? What will you ask me? When should I contact Arts OutWest?
We require all applicants to have a quick chat with one of our staff members to check that your organisation and activity is eligible and that you understand the guidelines. We can also answer any questions you have about the guidelines, the application process or the online form. We’ve found this filters out ineligible activities before people spend time on an application and helps people put in better applications.
When you call or email us we’ll run through a checklist of things to make sure you are eligible and your application is on the right track.
We can’t tell you how to do your application, but we can alert you to any areas of the guidelines you might need to consider. We might also be able to provide contacts for artists or other information that can help build your activity.
You don’t have to have the full activity worked out when you talk to us – you can call us with just a vague idea to start with then check in later when you have more worked out.
You can talk to us at any time in your application process, as many times as you need to.
Grants can be for up to $3000. How much should I really apply for?
These are small grants, and the funding pool is only $17,000.
Applicants are urged to cost their projects accurately and ask only for what they need. Value for money will be a part of the assessment of the budget.
Please be aware that in the past the assessment panel had awarded part funding to some projects based on available funds or if budgets are not realistic.
I’m not sure how to do a budget?
We’ve made a ‘how to’ do a CASP application budget sheet to explain what’s required. Download it here: Arts OutWest CASP 2023 Budget Tips
Do we need to have public liability insurance?
Yes, the applicant must have access to public liability insurance that covers the activity – whether you are applying as an organisation, business, group or individual. If you don’t have public liability cover at the time of applying you must arrange this prior to the CASP funded activity commencing and provide it to Arts OutWest.
You may decide that as an individual or group it suits you better to work with an existing incorporated organisation or similar as the applicant and come under their cover. Low cost and short-term Public Liability cover for arts organisations, incorporated groups and individuals is available via Regional Arts NSW and other sources.
I’ve not applied for funding before, where do I start? Can I get help?
CASP is a great program for people or groups new to the world of funding. Compared to many bigger funding opportunities the form, timeframe and process is simpler.
CASP applications are made using the Smartygrants system that the NSW government and many other agencies use so it’s a good way to learn how that all works.
We’re running a free in-person CASP Workshop on Wednesday 10.30am-12.30am in Parkes; and a free online CASP Information Session on Wednesday 16 November 6-7pm.
Call the staff at Arts OutWest if you are having any difficulties with the application process or the online form (don’t leave this to the last minute!)
Applying for funding and want some tips? We’ve listed some useful funding ‘how to’ resources on our website.
What kinds of projects have been funded in the past?
Here’s the list of projects funded by CASP in 2022
Small grants supporting local arts activities with exciting creative outcomes
Funding the payment of artists and arts workers to undertake or manage arts activities in local communities.
Location: State-wide funds. Arts OutWest manages funds for the Central West LGAs of Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Lithgow, Mid-Western Region, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, Weddin.
Funded by: The NSW Government through Create NSW
2022 round: 9 funded projects were announced
Dates 2023
Applications open: 24 October 2022
Applications close: at 5pm on Monday 5 December 2022
Announcement of funded activities: December 2022.
Successful applicants can invoice Arts OutWest for their funds: from 16 January 2023.
Activities can run: 1 February 2023 – 31 December 2023.