3 Nov 08 - City Culture Receives Grants Boost

Sixteen arts groups will this year share funds totalling $22,000 in the latest round of Council's Arts and Cultural Small Grants programme.

"The continued growth of arts, culture and the creative industries in the Coffs Harbour area is a sign of the ever-increasing importance of the arts to the wellbeing of the whole community," said Coffs Harbour Mayor, Councillor Keith Rhoades.

"Many of the projects receiving these funds also give young people in our community the opportunity to learn new skills or showcase their talents, which is a particularly important aim.

"Most of the people involved in these projects are volunteers and they put huge amounts of their own time into their particular group or society, purely through a love of the arts.

"Each of these groups plays a vital role in the development of arts and culture in our community and they are all highly deserving of these grants," he said.

The successful applicants in the 2008 - 2009 Arts and Cultural Small Grants Programme are:

• Uturn Ministries - to conduct a series of workshops in youth character development.   
• FOCUS - for Visual Arts exhibition and workshops.
• P&C Orara High School - for the establishment of a Multicultural Dance Group.
• Ted Noffs Foundation - for workshops designed to promote well-being in young people.
• Coffs Harbour Education Campus Multicultural Festival Committee - for the CHEC Multicultural Festival      
• Coffs Regional Brass Band - to help stage musical variety shows for members of the city's aged community.
• Woolgoolga Chamber of Commerce - for the Woolgoolga Curryfest.
• Coffs Harbour PCYC - for multicultural workshops for youth.
• Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga Girl Guides - to continue the International Families Day multicultural event.
• Friends of the Botanic Garden - for the Botanical Jazz concert series.
• Short Sharp Film Festival - to help finance the 'Short, Sharp Film Festival', which aims to showcase local film-making talent.
• Coffs City Choir - for their regular performances.
• Coffs Harbour City Orchestra - for performances showcasing local talent.
• Woolgoolga Art Group - to support the popular 24^th Lilli Pilli Art Exhibition.
• Coffs Harbour Regional Workplace Learning Group - for circus skills and public performances.
• Latinos and Friends Mid North Coast Assocation for Latino dance workshops and performance.