In 2023 the regional arts development organisations across the state were given additional funds from the NSW government towards audience development initiatives in our regions. This money had to be used across 2023 and 2024.

This targeted audience development funding supported Regional Arts Development Organisations to engage and develop audiences in partnership with their regional stakeholders.

The funding was designed to:

1. support new programs focused on developing and maintaining regionally based audiences.
2. support existing programs focused on developing and maintaining regionally based audiences.
3. targeted support to individuals and groups in the ‘small-to-medium’ sector in regional NSW who are delivering programs and projects that address an identified audience development need.

We used funds for a range of responsive support and measures including a series of Micro Grants targeted at disaster recovery, Arts OutWest’s audience development tools and activities, and targeted support for audience-focused activities in the region.

Activities supported:

• Beatlefest Lithgow (2023)
• SingOut Central West, Blayney (2023)
• Fast Cars, Bathurst  (2023)
• Pride and Stride, Bathurst (2024)
• Mentoring on Intertwined, Cowra (2024)
• Fish River Festival (O’Connell)
• Lithgow Comedy Festival (2024)
• Cementa First Nations Curatorium (Kandos) (2024)
• Waterbirds exhibition, Condobolin (2024)
• Audience data gathering at Condo Skyfest, Condobolin (2024)
• Audience data gathering at Dhuluny Aboriginal Art Markets, Bathurst (2024)
• Audience data gathering at Beatlefest, Lithgow (2024)

Flood and Disaster Recovery Micro grants (2023): 

Using additional, one-off Rescue and Restart funding from the NSW Government, Arts OutWest offered Rescue Restart Micro Grants for flood and disaster impacted people and communities.
We knew from the many conversations we had with people in the region that recovery, especially from November 2022 flood impacts, continued to be a challenge, and in many places visitor numbers were down. We allocated grants of up to $1000 with for affected individuals, groups and businesses in the arts and creative industries focused on repairing, replacing or rebuilding equipment or infrastructure; or reactivating spaces or programs; to build engagement with audiences. These opened in June and we assessed weekly.

13 grants made. $13,609 allocated.

Recipients included:

• small galleries (three in Canowindra, one in Lithgow)
• a retail store with creative product (Molong)
• museum repairs (Cowra)
• repairs to artist studios (Parkes, Cowra and Canowindra)
• replacing a musician’s equipment (Eugowra)
• supporting flood effected members of Craft Corner Parkes via a workshop
• supported Molong artist to make artwork for Bathurst Winter Festival
• contributed to the employment of a museum consultant to support the recovery efforts at Eugowra Museum
• supported musician Nerida Cuddy’s pop up choir for the flood effected community in Eugowra.

CASE STUDY: Metal artist Justin Lampe. The Molong local, who owns a metal and fencing company effected by flood, purchased metal to create ‘Stary Nights’, a sculpture for Bathurst Winter Festival.  3000+ (estimated) people saw this work.

“Without the funding after the huge losses as a result of the flooding in Molong in November 2022 I would have not been able to fund the purchase of raw materials needed to
create my sculpture.” – Justin Lampe

CASE STUDY: Grenfell Artists new gallery and workshop space. Grenfell Artists Inc received a micro grant to establish a small gallery to display their work in the Rose Street Rooms in Grenfell. The gallery space opened in October 2023. New workshop activities have attracted younger new members.

“With the grant we were able to purchase a hanging system and a new sign for our rooms. We now have our ‘Little Gallery’ ready with paintings hung.” – Dianne Franks, Grenfell Artists Inc.

CASE STUDY: Pop Up Choir in Eugowra.  Canowindra musician Nerida Cuddy teaches music at St Joseph’s in Eugowra. One of her contributions to their flood recovery was 10 choir sessions. The micro grant covered her wage, travel and printed music.

“The value of the project was to the participants, and for myself it felt GREAT to contribute in a small way to the Eugowra community that had suffered so much. It has impacted positively my continued involvement in that town as a music teacher and as a musician. One woman had lost her father, as well as her home in the flood, and she said the choir made a huge difference as she began to recover from the double trauma.” – Nerida Cuddy, musician and facilitator

Watch: 2 film clips of songs written by Eugowra locals and Nerida:
www.artsoutwest.org.au/micro-grant-stories-nerida-cuddy-making-new-music/ 

Arts OutWest’s audience development tools and activities:

• Touring of While the World Waits exhibition (2023 leg)
• Internal database development
• Media associates employed to photograph events and activities

The Regional Audience Development program is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.

Image: Grenfell Art Group were assisted by a Micro Grant to develop an exhibition space at the Rose Street Rooms in Grenfell/ supplied.