Arts Northern Rivers

Earlier this year 10 Northern Rivers projects were selected for 2011 CASP (Country Art Support Program) funding. While some of these are yet to be completed, four communities have enjoyed successful events. Here is a bit about what they have achieved with their CASP funding.

Coraki Art Prize

$1000 towards printing and painting workshops targeting young indigenous artists.

At the Painting Workshop on Saturday June 9 we welcomed 17 teenagers, four members of the Coraki Art Prize committee, the current and previous Coraki Primary School Aboriginal Education Officers and the indefatigable, ever-so-talented artist Digby Moran, who spent what all agreed, was a wonderful, productive day.

Thanks to CASP the teenagers were treated to a day (cost free) where they were able to learn from a master.

We started at 10am and finished at 3pm and not once was there a negative comment and some even worked through their lunch break. The only time that everyone stopped was when Robert from the Catfish Caf delivered a freshly baked chocolate cake which was unanimously voted a hit. Not one crumb left.

What is so impressive is the body of work produced. One day only and everyone produced a painting on canvas and most finished decorating their candle lanterns. The lanterns were the idea of local candle maker Linda Saul of Intregity Candles who donated 10 of them to the workshop and the Coraki Art Prize bought the rest.

Platypus Gallery, Richmond Valley Council

$1560 towards an exhibition exploring the local Indigenous language of Junbung.

In the month of September Platypus Gallery celebrated Indigenous culture through the exhibition entitled Mindle. The Bundjalung term 'mindle' translates to 'clever' in English. The title was chosen by Jambama Aboriginal Art Gallery to represent their member artists, all of who are very talented contemporary artists.

For this exhibition, artsist from Jambama and Indigenous students from Casino West Public School partnered with the Platypus Gallery to share with the wider community stories, dance, food and art from the Bundjalung nation.

Visitors to Platypus Gallery were lucky enough to see a series of live artist demonstrations complemented by a collection of artworks on display.

Artists Noel 'Charlie' Caldwell and Jai 'Darby' Walker also presented a series of workshops during September sharing their own unique stories through art.

On-Focus

$2255 towards workshops and a performance run as part of the Casino Day program for Indigenous people.

What a delight to have had the pleasure of performance artist, Mick Baker from Dhinawan Dreaming attend the Casino Day Service at On-Focus. A descendant of the Gamillaroi Bigambul tribe, Dhinawan is one of Indigenous Australia's most engaging, entertaining and memorable performers.

On-Focus received funding for four workshops this year and Dhinawan has already presented three, including an Introduction to Aboriginal Culture, Story Telling and an Art Workshop.

Attendees at Dhinawan's workshop performances have been service users of On-Focus Day Services and students attending Support Units at three local High Schools.

The performances have not only been a cultural learning experience and educational but humorous and entertaining for everyone who attended.

We have one more performance left of a Dance Workshop and everyone is excited in anticipation for Dhinawan's return.

Ocean Shores Public School P&C

$2550 towards a series of art and craft workshops, performances and a public art project, in conjunction with the Ocean Shores Arts and Crafts Festival 2011.

This family-friendly event, held in conjunction with the Ocean Shores Art Expo, was a celebration of the creative and performing arts featuring CASP-funded, free workshops for children and adults, a public art project and live music. The school community organised a cafe, craft and book market, children's play activities, face painting, wetland tours and a traditional woodworking demonstration to create a resoundingly successful festival in 2011.

All workshops were fully subscribed (145 people over the two days), often with parents and children participating together. Around 80 people joined in with the collaborative environmental art installation, giving a total of 225 participants actively making art over the weekend.

Our live music program helped build the ambience of the weekend with performances by Stan's Backyard Band lifting the spirits on the wet Saturday, and The Curly Cousins captivating children on the Sunday.

In addition to these CASP-funded performances, the school's choir and dancers showcased Ocean Shores Public School's performing arts program, and Cheynne Murphy contributed a laid-back Sunday afternoon set.

About CASP

The Country Arts Support Program (CASP) is an annual small grants program designed to support community cultural development in regional NSW and to increase opportunities for regionally based groups to access a diverse range of arts programs.

CASP encourages communities to apply for funding of up to $3000 for artists' fees and expenses for workshops, arts activities as part of a community festival or event, artists-in residence programs, public art and design projects, professional performances, arts and cultural directories, community seminars and forums, arts camps and curators for exhibitions.

This grant program is advertised in November each year with a closing date in the following February.

Only groups who are based in regional NSW can apply to this fund. The types of groups include non-profit arts and community organisations, local government bodies, colleges and P & C associations. Applications must be for an arts or cultural project that benefits a community.

Find out more about CASP funding here.