In a competitive round of over 30 applications, the Country Arts Support Program (CASP) with a panel of arts industry professionals, has selected four community arts projects that aim to increase cultural experiences and regional opportunities.
CASP is an annual small grants program with funding of up to $5,000 to support community arts and cultural development in regional NSW. Administered by Arts Northern Rivers through devolved funding from Create NSW, CASP 2025 is available for projects and activities that may include workshops, exhibitions, performances, public art, and design projects.
The successful projects for 2025 are:
Angourie Dance ‘Coastal Rhythms: Dance of the Emu’
Youth led dance and storytelling workshops and performance – Youth Arts – Hybrid / inter-disciplinary;
Robin Davis ‘Foundations of Aboriginal Cultural Weaving Practice with Creative Approaches’
Practical workshop series – Aboriginal Arts and Culture
Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce ‘Development Stage Community Making Workshops Kaleido Festival Mullumbimby 2026’
Workshop Series for collaborative display – Multi artform;
Raise The HeART ‘Merringingi Kulcha Day: Healing Through Art and Yarnin’
Immersive and Interactive Experiences – Aboriginal Arts and Culture.
Director of Arts Northern Rivers, Jane Fuller, says that overall this year’s CASP applications reflected the high quality and diversity of arts projects which emerge across the northern rivers.
‘The four selected projects each have a foundation of deep community connectedness that is at the heart of the Country Arts Support Program’s intention. ‘We’re looking forward to seeing all the projects come to fruition and build our thriving arts and cultural community.
The Projects will take place between 1 August 2025 and 30 June 2026 across the Northern Rivers to fulfil the Arts Northern Rivers CASP aims of increasing opportunities for regionally based creatives and groups; enable communities to explore and express their cultural identities; lead to greater awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity, and; increase the sustainability and resilience of regionally based arts communities.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
