Gloucester Arts and Cultural Council Inc (GACCI)’s workshops are one of the 83 successful projects to receive funding provided through Regional Arts NSW.

Through this funding, creative organisations from across regional and rural NSW will play host to range of short-term, locally initiated community productions, programs, performances and workshops.

GACCI will use the funding to run a series of school holiday arts-based workshops through the Gloucester Gallery.

The first is a make your own tempura paint and Hakazome pressed leaf and flower card workshop run by Manning Valley artist, Shelley McLure. There will be two sessions for children aged five to 10 years on Saturday January 19, 2019. The first will run at 10am until noon and the second from 1pm to 3pm upstairs in the School of Arts building, above the gallery. The cost is $12 per child per session. Bookings are essential and can be made at Gloucester Health Foods.

Among the other projects selected for funding, the program will support a two-day writers festival for primary schools celebrating and educating students in the power of literacy; a 10-week training program for aspiring theatre-makers working with disability, as well as an ensemble choir of over 100 vocalists accompanied by a 45-piece regional orchestra.

Arts Minister, Don Harwin, said the annual Country Arts Support Program (CASP) funding aims to drive creative and vibrant state-wide arts projects that engage diverse audiences and promote an innovative NSW arts and cultural sector.

“This funding reflects our ongoing commitment to promoting diverse arts and cultural experiences in regional NSW – everything from local community street art, youth choirs, and Aboriginal arts as well as securing a number of critically-acclaimed authors and artists that are going on tour.”

“Increasing access and participation in arts and cultural experiences drives economic benefits across the regions and also enables positive social impacts too, including greater awareness, appreciation and expression of our cultural diversity.”

The Country Arts Support Program fund is a devolved grants program administered each year by Regional Arts NSW on behalf of Create NSW. Grants of up to either $3,000 or $5,000 (depending on region) are available primarily for professional artists’ fees, travel and accommodation, with applications assessed by 14 regionally-based panels coordinated by the local Regional Arts Boards.

For further information on arts, screen and cultural funding, including targeted support opportunities, visit www.create.nsw.gov.au or email arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au