“This year there’s even more money to assist in the development of local arts activities,” said Derek Motion, Regional Arts Development Officer. “Grants of up to $5000 are available and the guidelines are now less prescriptive for its use.”
CASP grants are designed to primarily cover professional artist's fees and expenses such as travel and accommodation.
"Any community-based incorporated group can apply and I hope they will,” said Mr Motion. “Individual artists can also apply, they simply need to have their application auspiced by an incorporated group. Talk with me for assistance."
CASP provides small grants to arts and community organisations in regional NSW for short term, locally initiated projects.
The Program aims to support locally determined cultural activities and make them accessible, so communities can explore and express their cultural identities. Benefits include social and economic outcomes for the community through training, employment and promotional activities, while leading to greater awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity in rural and regional New South Wales.
In 2014 three Griffith-based projects were supported through CASP funding:
- GRAPA's 'Shakespeare under the Stars' community theatre productions will include a reprisal of their 2013 production, 'The Merchant of Venice,' at the Shakespeare on the River Festival at Stratford upon Avon, Victoria in May 2014, as well as performances of their 2014 production, 'Macbeth,' in Griffith and outlying areas in October and November.
- Griffith Regional Theatre will host a selection of theatre workshops to be delivered by Tanya Hennessy.
- Griffith East Preschool will introduce art as a form of expression to 180 children via an artist in residence program and exhibition. Working with the Regional Art Gallery the goal is to promote art to the community through the artists of early childhood from July 2014.
- The Leeton Men's Choir will hold workshops for an all-male vocal group. A series of six half-day singing workshops will be conducted by a Narrandera- based singing teacher and a final day-and-a-half workshop is planned with an internationally renowned ‘a capella’ choirmaster.
- The Leeton Art Society will host a workshop with Helen Cottle, followed by a memorial exhibition in memory of former president Penny Paniz.
- The CAD Factory will present three monologues based on historical Narrandera figures on the grounds of the Narrandera Train Station, including a soundtrack by a local choir designed entirely from live human voices.
- Live Well Narrandera's Happy Feet at the Food Garden Project is a community partnership to create 25 decorative pavers in mosaic for the Narrandera Food Garden. The project will involve at least six participants attending five workshops in 2014.
- The Narrandera Arts and Creative Network will host The Lines and Shadows Projection Art Workshops, where participants will learn basic skills using projectors, mapping and software to create shadow art.
For more information contact Derek Motion, Regional Arts Development Officer, Western Riverina Arts.
Image by Jason Richardson from The CAD Factory's In The Heart Of Our Past production, which was supported by CASP funding.