South East Arts is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the Country Arts Support Program (CASP), an annual small grants program administered by Regional Arts NSW on behalf of Create NSW.
CASP is a Create NSW initiative that supports a creative, vibrant and resilient NSW arts and cultural sector that engages with diverse audiences and communities. The fund supports locally initiated projects by not-for-profits, local government authorities and collectives in regional NSW, and is delivered in partnership with the 14 Regional Arts Development Organisations (RADOs) of the Regional Arts NSW network. For our region, this RADO is South East Arts.
Andrew Gray, General Manager of South East Arts said, "Local projects funded by CASP in 2018 included the Ephemeral Festival at Pambula, the African Multicultural Day in Cooma and percussion project for people with physical and learning disabilities, 'Beat Garden' at the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens."
"Local not-for-profits, local government authorities and collectives are encouraged to apply for CASP. All applicants from Bega Valley, Eurobodalla or Snowy Monaro Shires must meet with South East Arts as part of the CASP application process," said Mr Gray. "This helps ensure the quality of their application to ensure that the project in question meets the requirements of the application. We are particularly encouraging arts health focussed projects to apply for 2019 funding."
Funding for 2019 is available for projects occurring between 1 January and 31 December 2019. Eligible activities include workshops, exhibitions, performances, artist-in-residence programs, and public art and design projects. The 2018 CASP round saw support for 76 Country Arts Projects across New South Wales, sharing in nearly $250,000 and ranging from classical jazz and blues performances to touring theatre and residency opportunities.
“CASP demonstrates the vitality and breadth of the arts across regional NSW,” CEO of Regional Arts NSW, Elizabeth Rogers said. “Projects are assessed locally by independent regional panels, ensuring that each project serves the cultural needs of its respective region. 2018 was another competitive round and I am looking forward to seeing new and exciting proposals for 2019.” Applications for the Country Arts Support Program (CASP) close on Friday 3 August 2018, 5pm AEST. For more information about the program, including guidelines and instructions, visit: www.regionalartsnsw.com.au/grants/casp
