Rural CATCH projects get a boost from grants

Bendigo 6 October, 2015: Communities across rural, regional and remote NSW, QLD and the NT will be culturally richer, after receiving $213,000 in grants from FRRR. The funds, which are provided via the Culture, Arts, Tourism and Community Heritage (CATCH) program, will support a wide range of initiatives, from upgrading community facilities and creating signage for heritage sites, to hosting diverse community events, capturing oral histories and teaching new skills.

The CATCH program offers grants of up to $15,000, providing vital and often catalytic funding which small not-for-profits struggle to raise locally. A recent review of the program reinforced its role in filling gaps not covered by other funding sources, and giving local groups access to opportunities that would not otherwise be available in smaller rural, regional and remote communities.

This year, there was a high number of applications to support initiatives that attract visitors to smaller communities, supporting economic recovery from natural disasters, including floods, cyclone and drought. There was also greater demand for projects aimed at disaster mitigation, and ANZAC commemoration activities.

“Culture, arts, tourism and community heritage projects play a myriad of roles in small communities, but the common thread is that they bring people together – either bringing visitors to the community or providing opportunities for locals to come together,” said Alexandra Gartmann, CEO of FRRR.

“This is particularly important when communities face challenging climatic and economic conditions, so it’s pleasing to be able to help local groups implement local solutions, at the same time as having some fun and we look forward to hearing about the impact of these grants.”

Demand once again exceeded available funding, with grants going to only a quarter of applicants, and Ms Gartmann is calling on donors with an interest in art and culture to consider lending their support beyond city limits.

"Opportunities for creative expression and experiences are critical for diverse and vibrant communities. Philanthropy plays an important role by supporting these kinds of initiatives in rural, regional and remote areas, especially in the face of declining funding from alternative sources. However while many donors are active supporters of the arts, that support often doesn’t extend to regional areas," Ms Gartmann said.

“Small grants from FRRR are often the catalyst for community groups being able to get a larger project off the ground. Typically, they leverage these grants several times over, so while they may not seem like much, these small grants play a big role and we really need more support to continue this program,” she explained.

Twenty-two projects in QLD, NSW and the NT received funding thanks to support from The Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, The Julian Flett Endowment and a private donor.  The full list of recipients can be found below.

Organisation

Project

Location

Grant
Northern Territory

Gurrumul Yunupingu Foundation, NT

Cyclone Lam Recovery Concert 
Celebrating culture, music and building resilience in a cyclone affected area, through a Cyclone Recovery Concert

Galiwin'ku
(Elcho Island)

$15,000

Injalak Arts & Craft Association Inc, NT

Injalak Arts & a history of commercial art making in West Arnhem land 
Collecting, recording and documenting oral histories to produce booklets celebrating the pre-commercial art trade in the region

Gunbalanya (Oenpelli)

$12,000

Red Hot Arts Central Australia, NT

Let Me See - Arts & Health
Enabling local artists to create a performing arts event at the Old Alice Springs Gaol to promote wellbeing through art

Alice Springs

$3,500
Queensland

Blackall - Tambo Regional Council, Qld

1st Shockwave Workshop, March 2016 
Developing creative skills and providing career development opportunities through youth art workshop facilitation in drought affected Central West QLD

Blackall-Tambo, Longreach & Winton

$7,150

Boyne Valley Community Discovery Centre Inc, Qld

Super Sound Support 
Increasing the sustainability of local music events, by purchasing a community owned sound system and trailer

Ubobo

$7,845

Cherbourg Historical Precinct Group Incorporated, Qld

What goes round - the story of Barambah pottery 
Capturing and promoting the story of Barambah Pottery and Cherbourg through the facilitation of a travelling exhibition

Cherbourg

$10,000

Crafty Old School House Inc, Qld

Crocodile Dundee 30 year Street Party! 
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the filming of Crocodile Dundee in McKinlay, providing an economic boost to the drought affected town

McKinlay

$10,000

Cunnamulla Primary & Secondary P&C Association, Qld

Cunnamulla Dreaming 
Enabling the engagement of two artist facilitators to conduct dance and drama workshops for students to develop confidence and performance skills

Cunnamulla

$10,000

Friends of the Con, Qld
 

Theatre Sound Replacement
Providing skills development and greater community use of the venue by purchasing and installing a digital sound system

Innisfail

$10,740

National Institute for Socio-Economic & Environmental Research, Qld

5th Light Horse & equestrian cultural heritage project 
Commemorating the region's Light Horse and equestrian history through the construction of an ANZAC Equestrian Memorial

Pomona

$1,500

St George Tourism & Museum Association Inc, Qld

The St George Heritage Centre hangs up their Mud Boots 
Protecting the museum from further flood damage by relocating the building to higher ground

St George

$13,000

Tambo Tourism & Business Assn Inc, Qld

Wilderness Way 
Stimulating visitor numbers through the design and installation of interpretive signage along the 260km Wilderness Way tourist drive

Tambo

$10,000

Thallon Progress Association Inc, Qld


 

Back from the Brink - saving the Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat  
Creating a focal point in the town to promote awareness of the endangered Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat by installing a large scale interactive sculpture

Thallon

$10,000
New South Wales

Baradine and District Progress Association Inc, NSW

Kickstarting Improvements from Within 
Supporting community connectedness and strengthening social networks through upgrading a community venue

Baradine

$5,390

Breadalbane Community Hall & Park Committee, NSW

Build Breadalbane's first and only War Memorial
Creating a local war memorial and community focal point to honour the contributions of local community members during the first and second world wars

Breadalbane

$3,000

Forbes and District Historical Society Inc, NSW

Ivel Tractor Restoration
Preservation and restoration of historically significant agricultural machinery

Forbes

$8,300

Lions Club of Oaklands & District Inc, NSW

Start Your Engines
Stimulate tourism and promote community history through restoration and display of locally significant Ruston cold-start oil engine from former WWII army base

Oaklands

$15,000

Lockhart & District Historical Society Museum, NSW

Double the Space….. Double the History 
Protect historical artefacts and increase the display area by expanding the museum above the flood line

Lockhart

$15,000

Narooma School of Arts and Soldiers War Memorial Hall Inc, NSW

Let the Sun Shine In 
Reduce operating costs for a community cinema and performing arts space by installing a photovoltaic system

Narooma

$10,000

South East Arts (NSW) Inc, NSW

MoSE - Museum of the South East 
Creating a joint Virtual Museum  to promote four museum collections from the South Eastern region of New South Wales

Moruya, Bateman's Bay, Merimbula and Bega

$8,000

The Rock Progress Association, NSW

The Legend of the Faerie Tree
Creating a family orientated interactive sculpture to attract visitors to the town, helping to diversify and stimulate the local economy

The Rock

$12,575

 

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