Regional Arts NSW

Media Release

1 April 2009

Country Arts Support Program funds 142 new projects for 2009

Regional Arts NSW is delighted to announce the successful funding applicants of the Country Arts Support Program (CASP) for 2009. This year 142 new arts projects have been given the go-ahead in regional, rural and remote NSW, with a remarkable range of activities, from opera to oral histories, totems to textiles, screen printing to songwriting, and film-making to fire art.

"The Country Arts Support Program plays a key role in developing arts and cultural activities in regional communities,” said Elizabeth Rogers, CEO of Regional Arts NSW. “These small grants seed fund projects that develop artistic skills and leave a legacy that enables further development.”

CASP 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 small communities, to encourage communities to work together on cultural projects, to foster cultural diversity in the regions and to ensure that regional and rural areas have an artistic voice.

Grants of between $300 and $3,000 are provided from a total pool of $200,000 which is devolved to Regional Arts NSW from the NSW Government. Recommendations on funding are made locally by regional CASP assessment panels, coordinated by the Regional Arts Boards. Applications from local government areas not serviced by a Regional Arts Board are assessed by the State CASP assessment panel which meets in Sydney to approve the final allocations.

This year there were 207 applications received from every region of the State, with a total request of almost $420,000. Many of these were first-time applicants and 142 grants were approved.
Some of the highlights among this year's list are:

A six-week screen printing skills building workshop in Byron Bay for Aboriginal women from Casino to offer a new way of expression and exploration of the role of alcohol in the women's lives. The works will be exhibited at The Oaks Community Centre in Casino, and used as a vehicle for community awareness of this important issue.
A curator to attend and oversee the Centenary exhibition of nationally significant flags, archives, timelines, oral histories and songs relevant to the 1909 Lock-out at the Broken Hill Trades Hall.
Welding and metal sculpture workshops as part of the 'Animals on Bikes' paddock art project, resulting in the construction and display of 2 metre high metal sculptures in the paddocks bordering the 120km tourist trail through Molong, Cumnock, Yeoval and Dubbo.
Aboriginal girls and young women of primary and high school age in the Central West region will be taught Aboriginal cultural songs and dances based on Wiradjuri women's traditional culture by Fleur Magick from Burralgang Aboriginal Dance.

Read the full list of grant recipients here

Contact: Annette Eassie, Funding Manager, Regional Arts NSW
Tel 02 9270 2502 Email fundingmanager@regionalartsnsw.com.au