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New research into equipment grants for regional NSW 7 June 2004 Regional Arts NSW has initiated new research into grants for equipment for community arts groups as concern increases over strong unmet need across the state. Funding and Research Officer, Annette Eassie, will investigate if there is a demand for equipment grants for arts groups in NSW and what grants are available to fulfill that demand. Ms Eassie will also be collecting comparative information about the supply of and demand for such grants in other states. Regional Arts NSW works with the state's 13 Regional Arts Boards and administers the Country Arts Support Program through funding from the NSW Ministry for the Arts and the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund. Neither funding program covers equipment costs. "I am not aware of any arts funding programs in NSW that cover equipment for arts organisations," said Ms Eassie. "But who knows, we may find that there are other programs we didn't know about that we could tap into. If not, the next step would be to start advocating for this need to be met." Ms Eassie said her own experience working in WA, where the large Lotterywest Community Funding Program provides small grants for cultural groups' equipment and larger grants for general office equipment, showed that there was a strong demand for such funds. She said it was likely this demand would also be found in NSW especially in view of the recent overwhelming response to the Australian Government's Department for Family and Community Services Small Equipment Grants for organisations that support the work of volunteers. "Reviews of the Country Arts Support Program frequently raise the question of possible funding sources for equipment costs for arts and cultural organisations which may not fit into the criteria of other funding programs," said Ms Eassie. Ms Eassie's research will cover funding programs that may not be specifically targeted at the arts but for which arts groups could be eligible. Findings are expected in the next few months. For more information about the resarch contact Annette Eassie |