Murray Arts Announces CASP & UNLOCKED Grants 2025

Murray Arts has committed $32,000 in grant funds for regional creatives in 2025 with the announcement of the successful recipients of the Country Arts Support Program and UNLOCKED professional development grant program. 

The grants will fund a diverse range of projects and activities across the Murray Arts footprint encompassing Albury, Federation Shire, Indigo Shire, Greater Hume Shire, Towong Shire and Wodonga.  Successful recipients include The Other Theatre Company, Corowa South Public School, Runaway Theatre, Jindera Cottage Crafts Group in collaboration with Jindera Pioneer Museum and 10 independent creatives.

Coming into its 38^th year, the Country Arts Support Program (CASP) is an annual grants program funded by the NSW Government through Create NSW and administered by Murray Arts. The program aims to support a creative and vibrant regional NSW arts scene with applicants able to apply for up to $5,000, for projects occurring between 1 January 2025 and 31 October 2025. Eligible activities included workshops, exhibitions, performances, artist-in-residence programs, and public art and design projects.

Murray Arts UNLOCKED Professional Development program was an initiative developed as a response to the massive disruption that COVID-19 Pandemic caused across the creative industry. Since UNLOCKED was launched in June 2020, Murray Arts have given out a total of $103,315 in funding to support 129 Individual grant recipients and 22 collectives. This year 10 recipients will receive $1500 each towards a range of professional development activities including funding a residency, purchasing material or equipment to develop creative work, attend an event or conference or collaborating with a creative mentor.

“In the past month our funding panels have read through 46 applications which shows the strong creative activity happening in the region,” Murray Arts Executive Director Lauren Black said. “The diverse range of arts practice and audiences they are reaching will have a significant impact in our community.

Member for Albury Justin Clancy said the NSW Government funding will once again provide the community with exciting creative projects that will come to life in our streets and performance spaces.

“Murray Arts continues to excel at supporting and nurturing local arts and cultural activities, particularly through its administration locally of the Country Arts Support Program. Funded by the NSW Government, this program is crucial in increasing opportunities for a vibrant and varied range of arts programs across our region. Well done to Lauren, Murray Arts and this year’s recipients,” Mr Clancy said.

It is also useful to think about innovating during the broader process of a public art project. This can involve developing the scope to include a detailed art strategy, art activations, digital art, and opportunities to generate and evaluate tangible social impact from these artistic innovations. 

CASP FUNDED PROJECTS FOR 2025:

The Other Theatre Company Performance: Presenting Shakespeare in the Botanic Gardens, The Real Housewives of Windsor is a modern take on the comedy, The Merry Wives of Windsor. This project will offer a budding young playwright a chance to try her hand at the craft and feature a local cast of 16 plus with five back of house.

Corowa South Public School Mural: The project aims to provide high-quality education in an inspiring environment that nurtures each student’s unique talents, interests, and abilities. The school’s P&C sought the grant to complete a series of new murals designed by students and supported by local artists Margie Gleeson and Christine Bottrell.  

Jindera Cottage Skills Workshops: A series of art workshops to the Jindera community, led by local artists and hosted by Jindera Pioneer Museum. These workshops will provide both social and economic benefits and feature Sashiko, a Japanese fabric repair technique, digital macro photography in nature, polymer clay earring workshops, embroidery and acrylic paintingworkshop.

Ranaway Theatre: The “In The Jungle” project features two Artist-in-Residence programs at Hume Public School and Albury North Public School, reaching 350 audience members and 180 support workers. The immersive performance provides a sensory experience in a transformed jungle catering to individual sensory preferences and communication needs, with a focus on comfort

2025 Successful UNLOCKED Professional Development Grant recipients are:

Helena Kernaghan
Darren Wighton
Seth Scheuner
Ellie-Jane Bradshaw
Brianna Slattery
Ian Trevaskis
Ronda Teakel
Felicity Conway
Lenni Morkel-Kingsbury
Leanne Murphy