Eleven local groups are to share $35,000 in arts and cultural grants from Council that will bring new and exciting events, activities and learning opportunities to the Coffs Coast community.
This year’s funding round includes grants to develop an Our Coffs Pride Fest to celebrate the region’s LGBTIQ culture, creative art classes and dance workshops for former refugees, an orchestral workshop and performance for primary schoolchildren, a youth film festival to nurture local film-making talent, a Gumbaynggirr dance and craft programme for Aboriginal girls, a celebration of Punjabi culture that showcases dance and Sikh cultural history at Curryfest and a literature programme for schools featuring published authors.
Council annually offers grants from $2,000 to $5,000 through its Arts and Cultural Development Grants programme to help support the implementation of the Creative Coffs – Cultural Strategic Plan 2017-2022.
“Every year I’m surprised and delighted by the variety of projects that come forward,” said Coffs Harbour Mayor, Councillor Denise Knight. “This year is no exception and I love the way the successful groups are embracing our very, very diverse community and celebrating our differences so positively.”
The 2017/2018 grants are being awarded to:
- Arts Mid North Coast on behalf of Coffs Connection & Community and LGBTIQ Coffs Connection and Community – $3,000
- Coffs Harbour Arts Group – $3,513
- Coffs Harbour City Orchestra – $2,600
- Warrina Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Services on behalf of Heart and Soul Foundation – $2,900
- Arts Mid North Coast on behalf of Screenwave – $2,500
- STARTTS (NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors) – $3,510
- Toormina High School – $3,500
- Australian Red Cross on behalf of Uko Ono – $4,500
- Mid Coast Communities on behalf of Women of the World (WOW) – $4,000
- Woolgoolga Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Curryfest – $2,000
- Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival – $2,977
