Submit Applications for Country Arts Support Program (Australia)

Aim

• The Country Arts Support Program (CASP) is an annual small grants program funded by Create NSW and managed by Regional Arts Development Organisations (RADOs) and is guided by Create NSW’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program’s three major objectives:
  • Grow creative leadership and programming excellence in NSW
  • Strengthen NSW arts and cultural activity that drives community and social benefits
  • Showcase NSW as a leader for strategic arts and cultural governance and strong financial management.

Objectives

• 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.

Focus Areas

• The Country Arts Support Program supports the following strategic priority areas:
  • Aboriginal artists and creative industry
  • Arts and health partnerships
  • Creative Youth projects
  • Artists and Arts worker capacity
  • Regional and remote audience development

Funding Information

• Grants of up to $3,000 are available primarily for professional artists’ fees, travel and accommodation. To find out the maximum amount you can apply for contact your local Regional Arts Development Organisation Outback Arts.
• Duration: Projects are to take place between 1 May 2025 and 31 December 2025.

Eligible Activities

• Projects including but not limited to:
  • Workshops
  • Arts activities as part of community festivals or events
  • Artist-in-residence programs
  • Public art and design projects
  • Performances
  • Arts and cultural directories
  • Community seminars and forums
  • Exhibitions
  • Other local arts initiatives

Ineligible Activities

• Casp will not fund:
  • Core administrative costs, office costs or the purchase of equipment
  • Capital expenses
  • Production costs of films, videos, books or other publications
  • Competitions
  • Fundraising events
  • Prizes and adjudication fees
  • Applicants who have already received Create NSW funding for the same activities
  • General operating expenses or ongoing costs of long-term continuous projects
  • Projects that have commenced or are completed Sporting activities
  • Activities which could be considered part of the curriculum for schools or tertiary institutions

Eligibility Criteria

• A not-for-profit incorporated body
• A local government authority
• An individual or sole trader
• A collective with a nominated administering body
• Applicants are required to have a current certificate of currency for Broadform Liability or ‘Public Liability’ Insurance.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Individuals and Groups not based in the Local Govt Areas of Bourke, Brewarrina, Bogan, Cobar, Coonamble, Walgett and Warren
• Interstate organisations
• Professional touring groups
• Commercial enterprises
• Groups/ensembles and unincorporated associations with no administering body
• Regional Conservatoriums
• Organisations that have applied for or received Create NSW funding for the same activity
• Previous recipients where the use of the grant did not, in the opinion of the CASP state assessment panel, conform to the spirit and intentions of the guidelines
• State and federal government departments, including schools (except P&Cs who are incorporated)
• Organisations that have overdue reports or acquittals for any funding programs administered by RANSW and/or Create NSW
• Applicants who have not discussed their project with the relevant regional arts development organisation.

Assessment Criteria

• Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:
  • Artistic and cultural merit
  • Relevance, extent and depth of community engagement and participation
  • Evidence of consultation with and support from the community
  • Evidence of adequate planning, budgeting and capacity to manage the project
  • Priority is given to projects which address these criteria with consideration given to each region’s arts and cultural resources and requirements.

For more information, visit Outback Arts.