Announcing the Selected Projects for CASP 2025
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.
Jane Fuller, Director of Arts Northern Rivers says:
“Overall, this year's CASP applications reflected the high quality and diversity of arts projects which emerge across the northern rivers. The 4 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”
CASP 2025 Successful projects 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
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SELECTED PROJECTS
Angourie Dance
Project Name: Coastal Rhythms: Dance of the Emu
LGA: Clarence Valley
Artform: Youth Arts - Hybrid / inter-disciplinary
Short Project Description
'Coastal Rhythms: Dance of the Emu' is a youth-led arts project connecting Yaegl First Nations youth with culture, dance, and environmental storytelling. Through workshops in hip-hop, rhyme, and traditional knowledge, students will explore Yaegl Country and the endangered Coastal Emu, culminating in a public performance at the Maclean Showgrounds
2026.
Bio
Angourie Dance (AD) is a youth-focused initiative led by internationally recognised artists Janessa Dufty and Jade Dewi Tyas Tunggal, both born and raised on Yaegl Country in the Clarence Valley. With extensive international careers in contemporary dance, they are committed to giving back to their community by nurturing the next generation of dancers.
AD programs are inclusive and designed for diverse participants, including First Nations, CALD, d/Deaf, and young people with disability. We welcome all levels of experience—from enthusiastic beginners to experienced performers—and create a safe and inspiring space to explore movement and self-expression.
Angourie Dance empowers young people to connect with culture, country, and community through vibrant and transformative creative experiences.
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Robin Davis
Project Name: Foundations of Aboriginal Cultural Weaving Practice with Creative Approaches
LGA: Tweed Shire
Artform: Aboriginal Arts and Culture
Short Project Description
The project involves sharing knowledge of a weaving practice. Recognition of native fibre, safety and protocols when gathering. Ways of storing, drying processes, in weaving preparation. Need to shape weaving tool, historical background. Attending to process of dampening fibre for flexibility, focus for 'hands on ' weaving in cultural technique.
Bio
Robin Davis is an Aboriginal Woman from Yuin Country living in Bundjalung Country, she holds a degree in Visual Arts from Southern Cross University and experience in delivering face to face workshops for approximately twelve years. Her weaving practice brings awareness to the importance in sharing cultural practices with an understanding of sharing knowledge with others who also have strong interest with connection and belonging to our Countries.
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Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce
Project Name: Development Stage Community Making Workshops Kaleido Festival Mullumbimby 2026
LGA: Byron Shire
Artform: Multi artform
Short Project Description
Community artist Tracey Johnson and arts facilitator Joanne McMurtry will consult with Mullumbimby residents in a series of accessible and intergenerational community 'making' workshops, between April 1st and June 31st, 2026, to collaboratively design a floating sculpture, light and sound presentation to feature at Mullumbimby Kaleido Festival August 2026.
Bio
The Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce is a mixture of businesses and community groups that have come together for the purpose of taking care of our town, not only in the present but also to have input into the future of the town.
The Chamber has hosted diverse events since its inception in 2013. These include, the Chinny Charge and Carols By Candlelight. Chamber volunteers support Brunswick Valley Historical Society, Mullumbimby Community Gardens, GateWay Landcare, Spaghetti Circus and other community organizations.
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Raise The HeART
Project Name: Merringingi Kulcha Day: Healing Through Art and Yarnin'
LGA: Across the Northern Rivers
Artform: Aboriginal Arts and Culture - Immersive and Interactive Experiences
Short Project Description
MERRINGINGI DAY is a 100% Indigenous-led, all-day community healing event held in Tabulam, Coorabell Hall, and Lismore in October 2025. Led by the Strong Mob team after a performance the day before, it features kulcha, arts, food, ceremony and workshops to support connection, resilience and recovery for community.
Bio
Raise The HeART is a not-for-profit organisation supporting community wellbeing through the creative arts. Under its umbrella sits Full-On Theatre — a long-running company with a national touring history and deep roots in regional and community engagement. Led by theatre-maker and producer Dave Houston, Full-On Theatre has been creating high impact theatre works for over 27 years, since its founding in 1998. The company specialises in physical theatre, comedy, live music, and storytelling grounded in lived experience and community voices.
