Six organisations from across the New England North West region have been successful in securing a Country Art Support Program grant (CASP). CASP bolters community spirit throughout the state by encouraging people to create and experience local art projects.
“I congratulate the successful applicants and really look forward to seeing these projects roll out in 2019. The diversity of the successful projects will make a valuable contribution to the arts and cultural landscape in the New England North West” said Arts North West Executive Director, Caroline Downer.
The successful applications are as follows:
Armidale Aboriginal Community Garden: Matriarchal Image Reclamation Workshop $3,000 - Anaiwan and Gumbaynggirr artist Gabi Briggs will deliver a one-day workshop where Aboriginal matriarchs and family will work together using techniques of re-colouring and collage. They will take ownership of photographic imagery while sharing and reclaiming community histories.
Batiba Guwiyal Inc: Our Culture, Women's Way's $3,000 - Funding will be used to facilitate a series of five workshops for young Aboriginal women from Armidale. They will be mentored by older women while learning new arts and cultural skills like weaving, dancing etc.
Connect Effect: In Tune $3,000 - Commencing with a celebration song about a shared sense of place and things that bring people together, local HipHop artist Nate Weatherall and Sydney-based producer Daniel Neurath will conduct a two-day workshop teaching production and writing skills to young people from the local tribes of Armidale.
Gunnedah Shire Council: Nagami-Li Nugurrugu (To See Tomorrow) $3,000 - Nagami-Li Nugurrugu (To See Tomorrow) is a street art and mural project in Gunnedah’s CBD that will explore contemporary and traditional indigenous arts practices, stories and symbols.
Inverell Art Society Inc.: Sapphire City Festival Public Art Project - $3,000 Young people aged 12-18, invited from local schools, youth groups and diverse communities, will construct sculptures of Black Swans from paper and cane. These swans will be mounted and carried by youths in the 2019 Sapphire City Festival Parade.
New England Writers' Centre: Stories Connect community storytelling and sharing sessions - $2,800 Community storytelling sessions within the New England Writers’ Centre Stories Connect project aim to engage with the newly-resettled Yazidi refugee community and support community relationship building.
CASP is administered by Regional Arts NSW on behalf of Arts NSW.