CASP - Now Open!

CASP 2017

Are you a member of a regional based group or organisation that likes to initiate local arts projects? Well then we got great news for you - the 2017 round of the Country Arts Support Program (CASP), just opened and offers grants from $3000 to $5000 aiming to assist locally determined cultural activities.

The goal is to support community arts and cultural development in regional NSW through small grants that:

• Assist locally determined community arts and cultural activities
• Increase opportunities for regionally-based groups to access a diverse range of arts programs
• Enable communities to explore and express their cultural identities
• Bring social and economic benefits to the community through training, employment and      promotional opportunities
• Lead to greater awareness and appreciation of cultural diversityIncrease the sustainability and resilience of regionally based community arts organisations

In 2016 there are a variety of projects throughout the Western Riverina that were made possible with funding through CASP: 

• Griffith Pioneer Park Museum  will host a video projection workshop.
• Coleambally Town Life Committee will offer painting workshops with Linda MacAuley.
• Waddi Housing will provide an avenue for emerging Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander artists to promote their artwork within the Murrumbidgee Shire
• John O’Brien Bush Festival will bring The Drop Bears to Narrandera for the Festival, as well as offering workshops in poetry and music at local schools.
• Leeton Art Society will run three artist workshops at the Leeton Multipurpose Centre between February and August 2016.
• Parkview Public School P&C Association will host artist Christina Read to explore drawing and lino cut print making techniques. Work will be presented at an informal exhibition at the school. painting workshops.

CASP has made a few changes for the 2017 round though. Here is what you need to know:

• Opening dates and closing dates have been moved forward in the year to enable timely announcements for 2017 projects.
• CASP applications will only be accepted through the Arts NSW secure on-line grants system, SmartyGrants.
• Guidelines have been reviewed and simplified.
• You will need to respond to a number of Arts NSW KPIs that are common to all arts grants applicants under the NSW Arts and Cultural Policy Framework (ACDP).
• The newly merged councils have not yet been built into the system. You will need to indicate your local council before merger in the application and your application will be assessed by the Regional Arts Development Organisation (RADO) pre-merger.

If you are interested and would like to know more about CASP please come in and see us at Western Riverina Arts to discuss with Regional Arts Development Officer Derek Motion the possibility of applying for funding through the Country Arts Support Program, which closes Thursday 28 July 2016.

The Country Arts Support Program is an Arts NSW devolved funding program, administered by Regional Arts NSW and local Regional Arts Development Organisations, on behalf on the NSW Government.

Detailed information about the program, including guidelines and how to apply, is available here. For help regarding your application or any further questions don't hesitate to contact RADO Derek Motion at rado@westrivarts.com.au or make an appointment on 04 2888 2059