Four Central West projects will receive support from the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund in 2025.
Our congratulations to The Suburban Review (Parkes), North East Wiradjuri Company Ltd (Kandos), Lithgow Information & Neighborhood Centre working with MiLk Create Theatre (Lithgow), and Catherine McNamara’s project ViV! (auspiced by Arts OutWest).
The Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund will provide $610,000 to support 27 new projects in regional, rural, and remote New South Wales in 2025.
Australian Government Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, congratulated the recipients and their contributions to Australia’s arts scene.
“The Regional Arts Fund helps to get projects off the ground and boosts employment opportunities for artists and arts workers in regional and remote areas of Australia.
RANSW CEO, Dr Tracey Callinan OAM, commented: The demand for funding and the quality of successful applications in this year’s round of RAF projects demonstrates both the need for these projects and the impact that they have in regional communities.
The Regional Arts Fund is an Australian Government program that supports sustainable cultural development in regional and remote communities in Australia. The program is managed by Regional Arts Australia and administered in New South Wales by Regional Arts NSW.
The Central West NSW funded projects are:
The Suburban Review, Parkes NSW
A home for regional stories
$20,000.00
The Suburban Review, publishing from Wiradjuri Country in the Central West of NSW, is offering door-opening publication opportunities to 28 regional artists and writers on our new online platform The Regional Review. Through the Jumpstart a Journal program, 16 emerging editors and publishers will be provided practical skills and industry insights, and empowering participants to support and promote other regional artists effectively. The project strengthens the regional cultural ecosystem by supporting the development of new talent and promoting the exchange of ideas between regional and urban communities. The Suburban Review shines a light on regional Australia’s talented writers and artists, and taps into ten years of publishing experience and established networks to break regional stories and story-tellers out into the broader cultural landscape—enhancing the depth, vibrancy, and diversity of that cultural landscape as a result.
North East Wiradjuri Company Ltd, Kandos NSW
Birrindaymarra
$6,248.00
A monthly Aboriginal cultural art experience for all in the Kandos/Rylstone district, held across 2025. A family-friendly space will be provided to learn about local Aboriginal art from local Aboriginal artists and encourage attendees to participate by creating using the techniques learned. At the end of the 12 sessions, an exhibition will be held of those wanting to show their creations. One session will be held on Country at Ganguddy with a kayak tour and cultural experience guide.
Arts OutWest, Mitchell NSW
“The fabric of ViV!” – Capacity Building through Costume, Textile Design and Construction with the disability community of Bathurst
$28,962.00
ViV! – is a children’s theatre (5-12yrs) show about an adventurous, tough and sassy girl who lives with disabilities and her little sister ‘Lil’. The show merges digital landscapes, puppetry and choreography with an original score played live. This grant will support community capacity building with the disability community in and around Bathurst, supporting Designer Katja Handt and Matthew Aberline – The Beautiful and Useful Studio, Bathurst textile artist Fiona Howle, and ‘The Compareos’ a group of young women with disabilities (18-25yrs) who perform in the show – to co-create costumes/set pieces and textiles interweaving their lived experience into the fabric of ViV! through a series of interactive workshops.
Lithgow Information & Neighbourhood Centre (LINC), Lithgow NSW
WEST: a Lithgow Information and Neighbourhood Centre and Milk Crate Theatre Creative Project
$25,250.00
Lithgow Information and Neighbourhood Centre (LINC) is partnering with Milk Crate Theatre (MCT) to deliver a creative project – WEST – for young people in Bowenfels, a community facing significant disadvantage. This program will offer free workshops focused on scriptwriting, filmmaking, performance, and production skills, led by community artist Renata Commisso and supported by a second local artist and a social worker. Over two 10-week series, participants will build skills, develop content, and work with professional artists to create and present their stories. Workshops will be held at LINC, with transport provided for Bowenfels youth. The project will culminate in a showcase event, celebrating participants’ achievements with their community.
See the full list of projects on the Regional Arts NSW website.
IMAGE: a showing of ViV! at Regional Arts NSW’s The Work of Art in Orange Thursday 14 November/ AOW