Around mid December, the unvaccinated will join the vaxed in more freedoms. Meanwhile the rusty gears of creative commerce are grinding back into motion. Please, support anything that’s opening, with all due caution, of course.
Over the summer, I’d love it if you did some thinking (just drop the novel into the sand for a minute) about a possible project for the Country Art Support Program (CASP). This is a wonderful long-running program funded by Create NSW and run by the local Regional Arts Development Organisations. Round here, that’s Arts Upper Hunter! (Hello.
CASP grants are for organisations or groups to hold an event, have a workshop, run a project, put together an exhibition. Often a good part of the budget is spent on an artist or a professional creative org that provides the teaching or the facilitation. That’s not always the case: it’s all about outcomes!
There is infinite possibility here but examples include:
• a storytelling workshop (with the work made public online),
• a forum for CaLD creatives,
• a bunch of art workshops aimed at youth in areas that were devastated by fire,
• a course in how to self-publish,
• a skills-raising workshop where the participants are then encouraged to take those learnings and pass them on through their own workshops,
• a multidisciplinary workshop culminating in a performance with purpose-built lanterns on a nature walk,
• a video-making course that involves interviewing locals,
• an eco art workshop in primary schools,
• an artist chat between practising artists and seniors,
• a hip-hop dance engagement for youth with a disability,
• an ephemeral sculpture,
• a multi-generational event creating multiple forms of art from appropriate First Nations language,
• an Art In The Workplace happening,
• a crazy collaboration that looks at mental health,
• a chamber music festival in a gorge,
• a community photography day – or environmental sound recording day,
• a monthly live + radio show dedicated to original local music,
• a project that makes art out of ash…
I’m sure you can see a pattern. A theme or a goal helps. Many projects also aspire to target a group that might not normally be engaged in art. It’s great when something answers a need. Personally, I’m looking for a digital tie-in – is the event live-streamed? Will it go on a website or on YouTube? Is some of it pre-recorded and then engaged with in real life? Does a band performance include a photography component? Is it a digital-hybrid artwork?
Interactivity is encouraged – where the audience gets to sing along or make one for themselves. “Going to the next level” is a great goal, where you do something fresh that might be a new direction for you or your community.
None of these are rules (there are some rules of course). Come up with something you think will have an impact, or reach an audience, or fit your locale, or create opportunities that are otherwise unavailable to a lot of folks in the regions.
Then give me a ring so we can discuss the idea (that is a rule) 0409 382 509.. Applications will open in February – amounts of up to $3500 are available.
Not a group? If you don’t fit into the categories of CASP (you’re not a group, or you’re primarily buying equipment) we are bringing back our Microgrants of up to $1000 each next year. Stay tuned for that one!