Applications are now being accepted for the Regional Arts Fund (RAF), an Australian Government initiative that supports sustainable cultural development in regional and remote communities in Australia. The program is managed by Regional Arts Australia and Regional Arts NSW, and is designed to benefit regional and remote arts practitioners, arts workers, audiences and communities.
Funding for the 2018 round is available for projects commencing between 1 January and 31 December 2018. Projects must be based or delivered in regional NSW, with grants available in the categories of New Initiatives and Partnerships. The arts or cultural focus of the project can include visual arts, circus, dance, film, literature, music, theatre, puppetry, digital media and cross-art-form works. Projects are also eligible for multi-year funding for up to 2 years. In 2017, the RAF Community Grants saw support for 22 new projects sharing in more than $434,000.
“The RAF funds amazing projects in regional NSW, clearly demonstrating the excellence of arts practice in this state,” CEO of Regional Arts NSW, Elizabeth Rogers, said. “The high standard of applications for imaginative and innovative work is very exciting.”
Applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposed RAF projects with their local Regional Arts Development Organisation (RADO) prior to submission for one-on-one support. Those seeking more than $20,000 in funding for New Initiatives or Partnerships must discuss their application with the Grants & Projects Manager at Regional Arts NSW by calling (02) 9270 2501 or emailing funding@regionalartsnsw.com.au.
Applications for the Regional Arts Fund (RAF) Community Grants close on Thursday 10 August 2017, 5pm AEST. For more information about the program, including guidelines and instructions, visit: http://regionalartsnsw.com.au/grants/raf/
Country Art Support Program Opens Today!
Do you have an arts project that needs a financial lift? Will your project contribute to arts and cultural activity in your community?
The Country Arts Support Program (CASP) is an annual grants program that supports community arts and cultural development in regional NSW through grants of up to $3000. CASP opens on Friday 26 May 2017 and close 5:00PM Thursday 27 July 2017.
CASP is an annual small grants program administered by Regional Arts NSW (RANSW) on behalf of Arts NSW. http://regionalartsnsw.com.au/grants/casp/
WHAT'S NEW FOR CASP?
- 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 Create NSW KPIs that are common to all arts grants applicants under the NSW Arts and Cultural Policy Framework (ACDP).
OBJECTIVES
- The aim of the Country Arts Support Program 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 diversity.
- Increase the sustainability and resilience of regionally based community arts organisations.
DON’T FORGET!
- read the CASP Guidelines carefully and
- before you submit discuss your project with Caroline Downer, Executive Director of Arts North West on 0428 042 622. Caroline will be able to help you with any questions you have in regards to your project and applying for CASP.
Harmony Day Success in Glen Innes
The 2017 Glen Innes Harmony Day attracted around 100 people in the magnificent setting of the Glen Innes Town Hall with a foody heaven created by volunteers who supplied delicious plates of world cuisine from Indian pakoras and raita, Japanese sushi, to Turkish felafel and tabouli and a tea station that served teas from around the world. World music was played by DJ, Bob Blair while children and adults alike took part in a range of dancing and arts activities. Nicci Parry-Jones, Arts North West Projects Officer explains, “The art stalls focused on traditional craft practised from different countries such as making mandalas, origami and painting. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.” This festive event and waspresented by Arts North West with assistance from GISC and Refugees Welcome Glen Innes volunteers. The financial support went towards bringing feature act, The Balkanics who performed at the event with well-known multi-instrumentalist, Linsey Pollak.
Luke Hodgson, senior student at the Glen Innes High School took the opportunity to undertake an activity for children – a painting and photo booth as part of his Major Project for Aboriginal Studies, which was enjoyed and utilised by attendees.
“Harmony Day is an inclusive community event to celebrate Australia’s multicultural diversity. The selection of cultural activities on offer aimed to highlight the rich contribution multiculturalism has made, and continues to make, to Australian culture and to encourage community inclusivity through harmonious engagement. Arts North West takes this opportunity to thank the many volunteers who helped on the day and made it such a resounding success.”
Funding for Harmony Day GI was provided by the NSW Government through Multiculturalism NSW, Arts North West, Glen Innes Severn Council and Refugee Welcome Glen Innes.
What, Why, Wow! Project Planning Workshops
Arts North West is offering a full day program of advice, networking and professional development for anyone interested in creating an arts-based event. The day will have a focus on eco-arts but has been designed to cater for anyone with an arts project or event idea including artists, council managers, volunteer organisations and community groups. It could be in any art form for example theatre, film, visuals arts, music, festivals etc.
After running a successful series of these workshops in 2016, Landcare New England North West approached Arts North West to run a series of eco-arts based workshops in Uralla, Walcha, Deepwater, Bingara and Bundarra as arts have proven to be a very successful way to explore and address environmental issues and build and strengthen regional communities.
The day is a great opportunity to network and find synergies with others that you might not have known about – sometimes it means a new collaboration, or just a different way of looking at a problem. It is also a great opportunity to see what projects are happening around our region. In 2016, participants in our project planning workshops had ideas from stargazing to stand-up comedy – and many of these ideas became concrete with the assistance of our project planning guides.
You can be at the very beginning with just a germ of an idea that we can explore, or you might have things more concrete… this workshop caters for both.
$50 FULL DAY PROGRAM
(inc all sessions, hand outs, lunch & refreshments)
9:30am-12pm The Project Brief
12-1pm The Project Budget
2-3:30pm The Project Plan
Uralla 11 May
Walcha 12 May
Deepwater 25 May
Bingara 6 June
Bundarra 7 June
Book in online www.artsnw.com.au/#/whatwhywow/