Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: From $100 to $3,000
- Application opened: 4 July 2025
- Application closes: 11 August 2025, 5:00 pm
Program objective
CASP is designed to support community arts and cultural development in regional NSW through small grants that:
- assist locally determined community arts and cultural activities
- increase opportunities for regionally based groups to access a diverse range of arts programs
- enable communities to explore and express their cultural identities
- bring social and economic benefits to the community through training, employment, and promotional opportunities
- lead to greater awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity
- increase the sustainability and resilience of regionally based community arts organisations
This program is administered by Create NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
To be eligible for the Orana Arts 2025 CASP Grant you need to meet the following criteria:
- Applicant type. An individual (Australian citizen or permanent resident), not for profit incorporated body or a community group.
- Age. The named applicant, must be an individual 18 years and over.
- Location. You, or everyone in your community group/ incorporated body, must be an individual currently living and working in regional NSW **.
- ABN. You must have an ABN and provide this in your application.
- Project focus. Your project must be a clearly defined arts and cultural activity.
- Studio Co!Lab Member (the named applicant, must be a current Professional member of the Orana Arts Studio Co!Lab, who is living and working in regional NSW **. A current Professional member is defined as having been a Professional member for a minimum of 6 months OR having an annual Studio Co!Lab membership in place at the time of applying for the grant AND remaining a paid-up member until the project is completed OR be a resident of a qualifying council, a current resident of Warrumbungle, Narromine, Gilgandra or Dubbo Regional Councils
- Insurance. Not for profit incorporated bodies and community groups are required to have a current certificate of currency for Broadform Liability or ‘Public Liability’ Insurance. Individuals may require this insurance depending upon their project. This will be assessed when the applications are reviewed and may be a condition of receiving a grant.
** Regional NSW includes all local government areas outside of Sydney, Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Regional NSW includes Newcastle and Wollongong.
Location that are eligible include Dubbo Regional, Gilgandra, Narromine, Warrumbungle
Types of projects funded under this grant
ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES are projects including but not limited to:
- Workshops
- Arts activities as part of community festivals or events
- Artist-in-residence programs
- Public art and design projects
- Performances
- Community seminars and forums
- Exhibitions
- Other local arts initiatives
When the project can start and end
All projects funded through the 2025 CASP Grant must be started by 15 October 2025 and complete by 15 October 2026
The project should be started by 15 October 2025 and the project must be completed by 15 October 2026.
Who can’t apply
You are ineligible to apply for the Orana Arts 2025 CASP Grant if your project:
- Contravenes advice from the Federal or NSW State Government in relation to public health orders.
- Is not a clearly defined arts-related project.
- Does not meet the eligibility applicant criteria
- You have outstanding acquittals from a previous CASP or Orana Arts grant
- You have applied to another Regional Arts Development Organisation (RADO) for any funding in this round.
Types of projects not funded under this grant
Projects that will not be funded:
- Core equipment purchases
- Capital expenses
- Competitions
- Fundraising events
- Prizes and adjudication fees
- Applicants who have already received Create NSW funding for the same activities
- General operating expenses or ongoing costs of long-term continuous projects
- Projects that have commenced or are completed
- Sporting activities
- Activities that could be considered part of the curriculum for schools or tertiary institutions
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
- ABN
- Insurance - Not for profit incorporated bodies and community groups are required to have a current certificate of currency for Broadform Liability or ‘Public Liability’ Insurance - Individuals may require this insurance depending upon their project.
- Budget
- Project Merit - The artistic rationale for the project, quality and reputation of previous work, unique aspects of your project.
- Project Impact - On your career and practice, or your community.
- Project Viability - For example a schedule showing how you can achieve the project by the specified deadline.
- Letters of support substantiating your strengths and support of the project.
- Samples of previous work
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Address the assessment criteria
Orana Arts will assess all eligible applications against three assessment criteria: Merit, Impact and Viability. See above for details on how to address these criteria. The assessment panel will make recommendations with reference to the assessment criteria, artform, demographics and the distribution, range, and scale of recommended applicants. This may include prioritising Aboriginal people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability and young people. Prioritisation of recommended applicants ensures equity across the state and the best outcomes for NSW Government investment.
Start the application
To apply for grant funding, you must:
- Complete mandatory discussion with Orana Arts Executive Director Alicia Leggett between 21 July – 1 August 2025. Contact rado@oranaarts.com
- Complete and submit the relevant SmartyGrants application form via the link on the Orana Arts website - by 5pm 11 August 2025
Accessibility: If you require this information in a format which is accessible to you, please contact us prior to 5pm 5th April 2024. You can choose to complete your application manually. If you would like to choose this option please advise us by 5pm 5th April 2024. We will provide you with a form to complete and return to us together with your supporting documentation.
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Orana Arts Assessment Panel
You will receive an automated response from the online Smarty Grants application system once your application has been submitted. If you have agreed an alternative application process with us for accessibility reasons you will be notified as agreed. If you do not receive a success message it is likely that your application has not been received and you should contact us via email to check - operations@oranaarts.com.
If your application is deemed ineligible, you will be advised in writing. Your application can be ineligible due to location, residency status, lack of ABN, Studio Co!Lab membership status or incompleteness. It will also be ineligible if you did not discuss your project with Orana Arts prior to submitting your application as this is a mandatory requirement.
The grants awarded will be determined by Orana Arts Board of Directors and an external peer assessor using the Assessment criteria.
Anticipated assessment outcome date is End of September 2025
Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is Early October 2025
Support and contact
Sandra Kozleuchar: operations@oranaarts.com