Music, printmaking, filmmaking and movement. Nine exciting new arts and cultural activities will be funded across the NSW Central West through the Arts OutWest Cultural Fund Microgrants.
Funded activities range from drumming workshops in Forbes to classical music performances in Bathurst and Orange to a Lithgow festival celebrating fashion. There’ll be a film made about artists in Hill End and a choreographed physical theatre work with children in Hartley. Two workshop programs (Grenfell and Bathurst) will focus on print making, Orange will host a choral workshop, while the annual Newbridge Art Show will be supported.
This small amount of funding supports locally driven creative activity across the region and is made possible by generous public donations.
There were 32 applicants to the 2026 round, requesting a total of $68,832 in support, with just $12,000 to share. Whilst applications were received from across the region, 20% of applications came from the Lithgow LGA, an interesting indication of a growing creative workforce in the Lithgow area.
Individuals could apply for up to $ 1,000, and groups for up to $ 2,500.
“We want to stress that our microgrants programs always attract far, far more quality ideas than we have funds for. The Central West is rich with talent, ideas and passionate communities,” said Arts OutWest chair Jonathan Llewelyn, “There were many amazing applications from communities across the region that couldn’t be met this round only because our funding for grants is so small.”
“The Arts OutWest team will continue to look at the as-yet-unfunded activities to see what other ways we can support them,” said Arts OutWest executive director Kylie Shead. “We are very open to partnering with local service or community groups to help fund some of these additional projects, and welcome anyone getting in touch.”
For the recipients, the small grants now mean they can get activities off the ground. The first funded activity will be Gang Gang Gallery’s ‘Lithgow Fashion Week – Underpinning Fashion, the inside story’ running 14-16 May.
In the town of Grenfell, the local art group will focus on ‘broadening creative capacity’ with an expert helping members build on their printmaking skills.
“Thank you for this amazing grant,” said Di Franks from Grenfell Artists. “It will have lots of impacts on both Grenfell Artists and our wider community… We appreciate how much you do for rural and regional art, culture and artists, and you seem to produce miracles on the ‘sniff of an oil rag’ (as the saying goes).”
With the state government-funded Country Arts Support Program ending last year, Arts OutWest funded this new program with more than $ 5,000 in community donations, matched by their own funds.
Applications were assessed by a panel including members of the Arts OutWest Board (who manage the Arts OutWest Cultural Fund) and external regional experts.
Arts OutWest is the regional arts development organisation for the NSW Central West, supported by the NSW Government (Create NSW), the Australian Government (IVAIS), 12 local governments and Charles Sturt University.
To donate to the Arts OutWest Cultural Fund, go to: https://artsoutwest.org.au/donate/
Contact Arts OutWest on 02 6338 4657 or artsoutwest@csu.edu.au
