The City of Casey’s Arts Development Funding grant is providing not-for-profit art organisations in Casey with an opportunity to apply for funding between $3000 and $10,000 to support them over the next three years.
The funding aims to enable community organisations with arts as a primary focus, to expand, improve or develop current arts activities and support the delivery of arts opportunities that are new and innovative.
With the challenges Covid-19 has placed on the arts industry, Casey Council chair of administrators Noelene Duff is encouraging all art-based community organisations to apply.
“Council it committed to supporting Casey’s diverse and vibrant arts industry and we know how challenging 2020 has been on the arts industry,” Ms Duff said.
“The Arts Development Funding grant aims to support our art-based community organisations throughout this challenging period and beyond, by providing them with the resources to expand or improve their current programs or activities for community members to benefit.”
Previous grant recipients expressed how the grants assisted them to expand their programs and overcome the challenging environment.
President of Windmill Theatre Company Sean van Geyzel said “The funding assisted to pay for rehearsal materials, venues and other costs associated with the ongoing administration of the company.”
“In a period where our ability to even rehearse let alone perform, has been heavily impacted by Covid-19, without the support of council we would be staring into the abyss of potentially not being able to continue once restrictions ease,” Mr van Geyzel said.
Dr Michelle Sanders from Art and Soul Victoria also noted that the funding allowed them to expand their programs to better support the community.
“Because of Covid-19 people are experiencing depression and anxiety like never before, Art and Soul has really helped people with long-term depression to cope,” Dr Michelle Sanders explained.
“Through the funding we were able to expand Art and Soul to support kids with anxiety, and it helped us go beyond just a volunteer group to creating an ongoing program for the community.”
As Casey is home to many diverse arts opportunities, a wide range of non-for profit art organisations, including those that focus on performing, visual, literary and digital arts, are encouraged to apply.
An online information session to support organisations with their applications will be held on Tuesday 6 October at 6.30 pm.
To register for the event and receive the link please email your details to gofficer@casey.vic.gov.au or call 9705 5200.
Applications are open from Monday 5 October until Tuesday 6 November.
For more information, visit: https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/arts-development-funding
