Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Grants available up to $3,000.00
- Application opened: 2 September 2024
- Application closed: 17 October 2024, 5:00 pm
Program objective
The aim of the Arts OutWest Country Arts Support Program (CASP) is to support arts and cultural development in the NSW Central West through small grants.
CASP IN NSW
The Country Arts Support Program (CASP) is an annual small grants program funded by Create NSW and managed by the 15 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.
GOALS OF ARTS OUTWEST CASP 2024
CASP supports community arts and cultural development in regional NSW through small grants that:
- Generate locally determined arts,* heritage or creative activities that have exciting creative outcomes
- Enable communities to explore and express their cultural identities
- Increase opportunities for regionally based groups to access a diverse range of arts programs
- 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
- Have a positive impact (cultural, social or economic) either on a regional community or on regional artists.
This program is administered by Create NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
- People or organisations whose residence or main place of practice is within one of the 12 council areas that make up the Arts OutWest region: Bathurst Region, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Lithgow, Mid-Western, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin.
- Not-for-profit organisations; *Groups (including collectives); A local government authority; Arts-based businesses; Individuals.
- Applicants are required to discuss their proposal with Arts OutWest staff before applying.
Location that are eligible include Bathurst Regional, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Lithgow City, Mid-Western Regional, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, Weddin
Who the grant is targeted towards
Communities in the local government areas of the Arts OutWest region: Bathurst Region, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Lithgow, Mid-Western, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin.
Types of projects funded under this grant
- Activities occurring in the Arts OutWest service area, the LGAs of: Bathurst Region, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Lithgow, Mid-Western, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin.
- Examples of eligible activities include (but are not limited to): Arts or heritage based workshops, classes, performances, installations, exhibitions, screen/film making, writing or composition, development of new work, tours or talks, artist-in-residence programs, public art and design projects, community seminars and forums, recordings or podcasts, new arts activities attached to festivals or events – as long as they have some element of public outcome**.
In addition:
- CASP funding must be primarily used for the payment of artists’ or arts workers’ fees and expenses.
- If the activity in the application is part of a festival or other larger event, the CASP funded activity must be a defined, separate, stand-alone element.
- Activities with Aboriginal cultural elements must include either a letter of support or a reference contact from a suitable Aboriginal organisation, group or business. Refer to the Create NSW Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Protocol
- Commercial entities, arts business and those applying as individuals will need to show in the outline of their application that their proposed activity meets the essential criteria including “having a positive impact (cultural, social or economic) either on a regional community or on regional artists”, beyond the immediate financial benefit to their business or self.
- Activities must be covered by public liability insurance of the organisation, business or individual applying (see the FAQs for more info).
- Occur in the timeframe: 1 February 2024 – 31 December 2024.
When the project can start and end
For activities happening 1 January 2025 - 31 December 2025.
The project should be started by 1 January 2025 and the project must be completed by 31 December 2025.
What costs you can apply for
CASP primarily funds the payment of artists and arts workers to undertake or manage arts activities in local communities.
Who can’t apply
- Based outside of the Arts OutWest region
- State and federal government departments
- Schools
- Applicants with overdue CASP or Create NSW funding acquittals (not including projects still to be completed)
- Applicants who have not discussed their application with Arts OutWest staff
What costs you can't apply for
- Capital works
- Core equipment purchases
- Competitions, prizes and adjudication fees
- Fundraising events
- General sponsorship of events
- Core administration costs of an organisation
Types of projects not funded under this grant
- Activities that have previously been funded through CASP
- Activities not occurring in the Arts OutWest region
- Activities in which the core activity does not benefit communities or artists in the Arts OutWest region
- Activities that are not primarily arts or cultural activities
- Competitions, prizes and adjudication fees
- Fundraising events
- General sponsorship of events
- Core administration costs of an organisation
- Activities which could be considered part of the curriculum for schools or tertiary institutions
- Capital works
- Core equipment purchases
- Projects that have commenced or are completed
- Applicants who have already received Create NSW funding for the same activities
- General operating expenses or ongoing costs of long-term continuous projects
Example projects
Examples of eligible activities include (but are not limited to): Arts or heritage based workshops, classes, performances, installations, exhibitions, screen/film making, writing or composition, development of new work, tours or talks, artist-in-residence programs, public art and design projects, community seminars and forums, recordings or podcasts, new arts activities attached to festivals or events – as long as they have some element of public outcome.
Additional eligibility requirements
All applicants are required to discuss their application with Arts OutWest before applying.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
- Read these guidelines to check you and your activity are eligible and a fit for the funding.
- Start an application (you can download the application form and also save your work to come back later).
- Call or email Arts OutWest to discuss your application
- Complete the application including adding any letters of support, support materials or references.
- Submit your application by at 5pm on 17 October 2024
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Address the assessment criteria
Essential criteria:
After applications are checked for all eligibility requirements, they will be assessed for:
- Artistic and cultural merit.
- Potential to have a positive impact (cultural, social or economic) either on a regional community or on regional artists.
- Quality of planning and demonstration that the applicant has the capacity to deliver the project.
- Budgets offer financial value.
- Good community/ cultural consultation (if applicable).
Optional but desirable criteria:
- Activities develop partnerships or collaboration between groups/ artists/ organisations.
- Activities align with one of Arts OutWest’s current strategic focus areas: Aboriginal arts development; Arts and health; Cultural tourism; Music industry support; or core business of supporting arts and cultural development in the NSW Central West.
- Budgets show additional other income – either through cash or in-kind.
- Letters of support demonstrate need/ desire for the activity and the relevant support it will receive.
Start the application
- Read these guidelines to check you and your activity are eligible and a fit for the funding.
- Start an application (you can download the application form and also save your work to come back later).
- Call or email Arts OutWest to discuss your application.
- Complete the application including adding any letters of support, support materials or references.
- Submit your application by at 5pm on 17 October 2024
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Arts OutWest Assessment Panel
The funding panel, of at least 3 assessors, is made up of Arts OutWest Board members and external industry experts. Arts OutWest staff are NOT on the assessment panel.
After eligibility of the activity and the applicant has been checked, the external funding panel will assess and rank each application against the criteria listed above.
Anticipated assessment outcome date is Mid November 2024
Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is Within one month of notification
Support and contact
All applicants are required to discuss their application with Arts OutWest before applying. Preferred communication for CASP enquiries and discussions:
Phone: (Monday-Friday) 02 6338 4657
Email: artsoutwest@csu.edu.au