Funding for local arts in 2014

Groups in the Western Riverina will benefit from funding worth nearly $20,000 through the NSW Regional Arts Country Arts Support Program (CASP).

"We've seen a four-fold increase in funding for local community groups," said Derek Motion, Regional Arts Development Officer with Western Riverina Arts.

"The role of our organisation is to assist in developing arts in the region, so it's pleasing to see more groups accessing funding for creative activities.

“Applications have been assisted in some cases through partnerships and the support of local councils, which has contributed to the increase in funding reaching our communities," he said.

Narrandera Shire will see three projects supported by CASP funding, developed by The CAD Factory, Live Well Narrandera and the Narrandera Arts and Creative Network.

• 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.

Leeton Shire will see two projects supported by CASP funding, including an Art Society workshop and the establishment of a male choir.

• 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.

Griffith City will see four projects supported by CASP funding, developed by Griffith & Regional Association of the Performing Arts (GRAPA), Griffith East Preschool, Griffith Readers' Festival and Griffith Regional Theatre.

• 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 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.
• Griffith Readers' Festival will continue to develop passions for reading in the diverse communities of our vast and partly remote region of Western NSW through hosting a Readers' Festival featuring published authors, workshops, and fun literary events.
• Griffith Regional Theatre will host a selection of theatre workshops to be delivered by Tanya Hennessy.

Western Riverina Arts is the peak body for arts and cultural development across the Western Riverina. Our region covers the Local Government Areas of Narrandera, Leeton and Griffith.

Our objective is to connect artists, communities and councils to foster a vibrant and creative region. Western Riverina Arts is a member of Regional Arts NSW and is supported by the NSW Government through Arts NSW.