From 90 applications Arts OutWest will distribute 27 Micro Grants to the value of $36,340 to creatives and arts groups across the Central West region, including Canowindra
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The regional arts development organisation bumped up the initial funding to try to accommodate such high demand for support.
"We had a truly overwhelming response to this year's micro grants program with so many excellent proposals," Arts OutWest executive director Tracey Callinan said. "It showed the real, often very personal and specific need for support for regional creatives but also the abundance of positive new ideas being explored."
Canowindra's David Isbester received a grant to assist in reopening his gallery in main street of Canowindra.
Vince Lovecchio received funding for filmed interviews with Canowindra's Craig Lawler as short, contextualising introductions to explain the historical facts and significance of the stories outlined in ten History Here films.
"The AOW micro-grant will pay for filming, editing, post-production and mileage," Arts OutWest said.
Wiradjuri woman, Beatrice Murray of Cowra received funding to hold Wiradjuri School Holiday Workshops.
"This project will benefit the local Aboriginal community of Cowra," Arts OutWest said.
"Children and parents/carers will attend workshop aimed to develop contemporary dance with Wiradjuri songs.
"The revitalisation of Wiradjuri language will be a focus by teaching the language through conversations and instructions throughout the course of the school holiday workshops."
A grant also went to the Gooloogong Public School Parents & Citizens Association to facilitate the creation of a community mural on the external wall of the school hall.
Home-Start Cowra, Canowindra and Weddin receiving funding which will see Wiradjuri artist, storyteller and Elder, Julie Ferguson partner with Home-Start Family Worker in Weddin, Kirstin Stevenson, to engage children and staff of Grenfell Preschool, and Caragabal and Greenthorpe Public Schools in three weeks of Aboriginal art, stories, language, painting and bush tucker.
The funding, Arts Outwest said, would add value to an already-created body of short films, repurposing them into a new and more accessible product for broadcast, and provide potential new income stream for artists.
The bulk of funding will be covered by the NSW Government's Arts Restart ($24,000) with extra from Arts OutWest's Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support funding from the Australian Government ($6,000) and Arts OutWest's own funds ($6,340). Grants range from $450 to $2000.
