Arts and Cultural Development Grants

Applicant: Woolgoolga and Northern Beaches Chamber of Commerce

Project Title: 20th year Curryfest

It is 20 years since Curryfest began as our town's celebration of culture and cuisine given Woolgoolga's unique Punjabi heritage. This project is to add new cultural elements to the festival both on main day and for additional new Bollywood cabaret performances in surrounding days to build extra days into the festival and enhance tourism spin off for the Coffs Coast economy.

Alignment with the Creative Coffs Cultural Strategic Plan:

1.1 Engage both the community and visitors through continued development of innovative and dynamic cultural activities and programs.

Funds requested: $5900  Funds recommended: $5900

Applicant: Arran Saunders

Project Title: Clay Connections

Clay Connections is a community arts project that brings together women from refugee and culturally diverse backgrounds to explore memory, identity and connection through clay and storytelling. Through facilitated workshops in ceramics and wool wrapping, participants share cultural knowledge, build creative skills and form social connections in an inclusive environment that respects culture and includes a Welcome to Country and involvement from Aboriginal Elders.

The project captures participants’ stories through group sharing and audio recordings, which inform a collaborative art installation unveiled at a public cultural event. Evaluation activities measure impacts on wellbeing and social connection, while documentation and keepsakes ensure lasting recognition of the shared creative experience.

Alignment with the Creative Coffs Cultural Strategic Plan:

1.6 Work with service and education providers to develop programs which use the arts to improve health, in particular mental health and healthy ageing in the community.

Funds requested: $7000  Funds recommended: $2000

Applicant: Jade Symons

Project Title: Somewhere on Gumbaynggirr Country

This project is a storytelling and interview series that documents and shares the diverse lived experiences of people in Coffs Harbour, including refugees, migrants, long-term locals, Gumbaynggirr community members, and other culturally diverse residents. Led by a professional historian, it will produce a published book of 25-30 stories, host public conversation events where storytellers engage with audiences, and share content through social media and local organisations. The project aims to amplify underrepresented voices, celebrate resilience, and strengthen connection and understanding across the community.

Alignment with the Creative Coffs Cultural Strategic Plan:

3.2 Support the development, preservation and promotion of Coffs Harbour cultural collections (in particular physical and online library, museum and gallery collections)

Funds requested: $7000  Funds recommended: $2500

Applicant: Coffs Harbour Musical Comedy Company

Project Title: Breaking Barriers Accessible Theatre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Audiences

The Coffs Harbour Musical Comedy Company is seeking funding to improve accessibility for Deaf and hard of hearing audiences. The project focuses on three main areas: providing Auslan-interpreted performances for upcoming productions in 2026 and 2027, strengthening engagement with the local Deaf community to ensure inclusive and culturally appropriate delivery, and investing in assistive listening technology to enhance audio access. Together, these initiatives aim to make live theatre more inclusive while creating long-term, sustainable accessibility improvements for future productions.

Alignment with the Creative Coffs Cultural Strategic Plan:

1.2 Actively develop audiences, engaging the wider community including young people, retirees, LGBTQI, diverse/multi/intercultural, refugee, Aboriginal members of the community and people with a disability.

Funds requested: $7000  Funds recommended: $6000

Applicant: Taranta Arts Inc.

Project Title: Taranta Festival Opening Night at Jetty Theatre

A one-night gala concert at Jetty Theatre in Coffs Harbour on 29 October 2026 will feature the Taranta Orchestra and visiting artists from the Taranta Festival 2026. The performance showcases traditional Southern Italian folk music from regions including Puglia, Calabria and Basilicata. Serving as the official opening of the Taranta Festival, the event builds on the success of the 2025 gala and expands the format with a larger ensemble and international artists, strengthening cultural connections between Coffs Harbour audiences and the wider festival program.

Alignment with the Creative Coffs Cultural Strategic Plan:

5.2 Expand local arts practice and audience stimulation through long-term relationships with artists and arts companies from both inside and outside the local area.

Funds requested: $7000  Funds recommended: $7000

Applicant: Woolgoolga Art Group Inc

Project Title: Let’s Fact It

To coincide with the Archibald Prize 2025 finalist’s exhibition at Yarrila Place, Woolgoolga Art Gallery will hold a portraiture exhibition preceded by two professional artist-led portraiture workshops. The exhibition of local artists' work will run 7 August to 11 September.

Alignment with the Creative Coffs Cultural Strategic Plan:

1.4 Develop and maintain channels for increased community sharing of information about local arts and cultural offerings, cultural collections, arts and cultural trails, events and related tourism initiatives.

Funds requested: $3540  Funds recommended: $3540

Applicant: Sawtell Art Gallery

Project Title: Bridging Worlds Intergenerational Art Studio

Bridging Worlds: Intergenerational Art Studio is a creative program at Sawtell Art Gallery that connects young people (aged 9–15) and older community members (65+) through a series of facilitated art sessions. Over eight weeks, participants will collaborate and create works across drawing, painting, sculpture and mixed media, sharing skills, perspectives and life experiences in a two-way exchange. The program responds to rising social isolation by fostering connection, wellbeing and community through shared creative practice. Led by professional facilitators and artist mentors, the project will conclude with a public exhibition and opening event, alongside a digital publication capturing artworks, stories and participant reflections.

Alignment with the Creative Coffs Cultural Strategic Plan:

4.1 Provide strong advocacy, assistance and frameworks for creative individuals, professional and community cultural organisations to self manage facilities, programs and projects that are sustainable.

Funds requested: $7000 Funds recommended: $3500

Applicant: Samantha Ross

Project Title: Heart Farm Rural Company

Heart Farm Rural Company is a regional dance and movement company based on the Coffs Coast that develops original performance works and supports local and returning artists in a rural creative setting. The project includes creative development intensives at Heart Farm where artists collaborate on new choreography in connection with the local environment. The work will culminate in a professional performance season at the Jetty Memorial Theatre, with potential for regional touring. Alongside the main production, the project will present a community showcase featuring local and emerging performers, as well as workshops led by professional artists to support creative development and engagement across the wider community.

Funds requested: $7000 Funds recommended: $4000

Applicant: Michael Bryer

Project Title: Sawtell Chilli Festival

The Sawtell Chilli Festival 2026 will expand its cultural programming through a “Chilli World Tour” theme, celebrating global cultures where chilli is an important part of cuisine and identity. The festival will feature live music and dance, roving performers, and street-based installations that explore the cultural history and significance of chilli across regions including Latin America, Mexico, Asia, Italy, and India. These additions aim to create a richer festival experience that blends food, performance, and storytelling while highlighting diverse cultural traditions.

Funds requested: $7000 Funds recommended: $5500

Auspice/Applicant: Auspicious Arts Auspicee: Fyreside Arts

Project Title: Creative Industries Partnership

Funds endorsed: $7,000

This 8-month project is delivered through a partnership between two creative industry businesses on the Mid North Coast NSW, Fyreside Arts and Archive. Fyreside Arts will focus on sculpture making, facilitating a small metal sea star project by 20 local artists in various stages of their careers. Archive will focus on hosting an art event consisting of a curated group exhibition of small sculptures made at Fyreside Arts, with local musicians, food and beverages for the arts community.

Applicant: Coffs City Choir Incorporated

Project Title: Foster the enjoyment, pleasure and happiness that music and singing brings to our community

Funds endorsed: $1,500

The Coffs City Choir has been in continuous operation since 1991 and consists of 25 to 30 or more members, male and female, aged from 40s to 80s. Our aim is to foster enjoyment of singing by the choir members and members of our community. After several years of Covid close-downs, Coffs City Choir will focus on the selection and performances that include songs that are upbeat and fun or beautiful and melodic.

Applicant: NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors

Project Title: Women's Connection to Culture through Music

Funds endorsed: $6850

‘Women's Connection to Culture through Music’ will provide facilitated singing and music workshops for women from refugee backgrounds. The program will provide 7 x singing workshops for young women and 6 x music workshops for women of all ages that contribute to mental wellbeing, access to cultural arts and activities that promote social interaction. Workshops will be facilitated by the local social enterprise Grow the Music who specialise in trauma informed service delivery.

Seven local groups are to share $40,753 in arts and cultural grants from Council that will bring new and exciting opportunities to celebrate the cultural diversity of the Coffs Coast community.

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Details of successful projects

Dawaaalam: a theatrical response to the Coutts Crossing Massacre of 1847

Auspice/Applicant: Coffs Harbour High School P & C Association Auspicee: Garlambirla Youth Theatre

Dawaaalam is an inter-cultural musical theatre piece exploring the events which took place at Kangaroo Creek (Dawaaalam) on Gumbaynggirr Country on November 29, 1847. Allegedly the settler Thomas Coutts murdered twenty-three Gumbaynggirr men with poisoned flour, yet was acquitted at trial. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Thomas Fry, in 1848 described this event as ‘one of the most hideous enormities that has ever taken place, in any age or Country’.

The production team, all of whom have theatre experience and are demonstrably able to successfully deliver the project, includes:

• Madge Hair, scriptwriter and director, former Drama teacher at Coffs Harbour High School.
• Manduway Dutton, Gumbaynggirr composer and musician.
• Uncle Micklo Jarrett, Gumbaynggirr language consultant and performer.
• Brad Smith, formerly of Bangarra Dance Theatre, Gumbaynggirr choreographer and dancer.
• Ilka Shroeder, yoga teacher with experience working with actors in Europe, movement adviser.
• Finn Appleton, NIDA graduate now working for Sydney Opera House, lighting, sound and technology.
• Jan Chivas, former CAPA Head Teacher at Coffs Harbour High School, props and costumes.

Coffs Coast Jazz Festival 2022

Applicant: Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium

The inaugural Coffs Coast Jazz Festival will be an immersive three-day celebration of jazz, music education, community and collaboration. Presented by the Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium, the exciting new festival will include three live concerts and two educational workshops that will celebrate and promote jazz music and culture on the Coffs Coast.

The festival is hosted by Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium, a not-for-profit charity organisation whose vision is to enrich the cultural life of Coffs Harbour through musical performances and education. The festival strongly aligns with this vision, through acclaimed jazz musicians providing engaging educational workshops followed by inspirational live performances that targets both local residents and visitors.

While Coffs Harbour has one-off jazz concerts on an infrequent basis, this unique offering of collating three live performances over a single weekend and combining these with two interactive workshops, will significantly grow the jazz culture and profile of the Coffs Coast. The success of these larger festivals is evidenced by the popular Coffs Harbour Festival of Chamber Music recently hosted by the Conservatorium in April 2022. The Coffs Coast Jazz Festival envisages a similar, yet more interactive format that will promote and encourage jazz culture and development in the area.

The concept of the Coffs Coast Jazz Festival holds much potential to become an annual event on the local calendar with strong initial community support from local jazz artists, students and the broader Associations of NSW Regional Conservatoriums.

Children's Art Matters - Our Stories

Applicant: Gamumbi Early Childhood Education Centre Incorporated

“Creativity should not be considered a separate mental faculty but a characteristic of our way of thinking.” ~ Loris Malaguzzi.

The creative arts provide a wonderful medium to promote self-expression, risk-taking, experimentation, collaboration, critical thinking, exploration of new ideas and learning through play. Our ongoing goal at Gamumbi is to support children’s confidence in developing their own individual artistic style (as opposed to focusing on a tangible outcome or finished product) and facilitating their passion and appreciation for art. Integral to this is increasing educators’ knowledge around the importance of the creative arts in early childhood and supporting their capacity to offer meaningful creative experiences here at Gamumbi.

In order to achieve this, we will invite Jess Miller from The Art Dept. into our classroom at Gamumbi to work with small groups of 10 children for an hour each week for 10 weeks. During these classes Jess will explore a variety of creative mediums and artistic techniques and processes with the children. Indigenous perspectives will be honoured and respected in a culturally appropriate manner by supporting the children to develop their own visual language to share their stories and narratives (as opposed to culturally appropriating or copying Aboriginal signs, symbols or artworks).

At the completion of our classes with Jess, the children’s artworks will be exhibited at both Gamumbi and a community venue (such as the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery/Yarrila Arts and Museum or Toormina Library) and include an opening day/night. This will highlight to children, families, educators and the broader community that art does, in fact, matter!

Coffs Ukulele Youth Group

Auspice/Applicant: GenHealth Inc. (trading as headspace Coffs Harbour)

Auspicee: Uko Ono

This project builds on the 2021 Ukulele Art Attack project (funded through the Coffs Harbour City Council Arts and Cultural Development Grants program) and Ukulele Youth Online project (in association with CHCC). Approximately 50 young people have engaged in these projects with 20 attending the one-day ‘Ukulele Art Attack’ workshop and 30 completing Uko Ono’s Creative Kids Absolute Beginners online course. We want to give these young people and others in the community the opportunity to enjoy all the benefits of joining a face-to-face ukulele group.

The project will run over 8-weeks during Term 4 with weekly ukulele sessions held at the Coffs Harbour CWA Hall on a Friday afternoon (3.30-5.00pm). Peer Support Workers from headspace will join the Uko Ono team in supporting students through the process with the aim to develop a repertoire of age-appropriate songs that can be performed in public over the end of year school holidays. An additional 10 ukuleles will be purchased for participants who don't already own an instrument.

The project will provide a much needed safe and engaging space for young people to express themselves creatively. The importance of creativity and social connection are directly linked to a young person’s overall wellbeing and healthy headspace.

Mentorship program for emerging and early career artists

Applicant: Sawtell Art Group Auspice: Bay School of Creative Arts

The project is to equip a group of emerging and early career artists with the skills needed to venture into the community to then build and ensure the ongoing vitality and longevity of the arts in our region. The project will provide a unique opportunity for artists who would never otherwise receive it. These are the people who need it the most and can afford it the least as they live and work in a region where training, employment and other opportunities are limited or difficult to access. This new generation of artists are the key to future cultural sustainability. They will also bridge gaps between generations, cultures and other community groups.

Our project is to plan, develop and implement a mentorship program in the Coffs Harbour region aiming at enhancing personal and professional growth, opening up opportunities for emerging and early career artists, making them aware of those opportunities and instilling a belief in what they are doing. Further, the program will be designed so that participants will gain confidence in abilities, be publicly recognised, be exposed to networking opportunities and be provided with a solid and savvy knowledge of the business associated with the arts sector.

The program will provide recipients with a plan to use as a blueprint in their ongoing successful working professional practice.

The program will be implemented by fully qualified and experienced mentors and teachers from the Bay School Of Creative Arts with extensive experience (10+ years) in this field providing access to established artists and art workers who have ‘been there before’.

Artists in the Garden (Phase 2)

Applicant: The Friends of the North Coast Regional Botanic Gardens Inc.

This project is founded on the ‘Artists in the Garden’ arts industry initiative, which provides opportunity for artists, arts industry providers, and educators to meet, discuss possibilities, form collaborative networks, and identify areas for growth in professional practice and cultural development.

The program of events for Phase 2 will bring art to the people, give people direct access to artists, allow free expression of art, performance and ideas, and allow artistic dialogue, synergy and connection. These events will include artistic showcases and engagement through collaborative works, workshops, sculptural and photographic exhibitions and prizes, multimedia art trail, exhibitions of collaborative and open works. Events will be scheduled in the Coffs Harbour Botanic Gardens on the first Sunday of every month, from 12 to 4 pm and will be free and accessible to community and visitors to our region.

Woolgoolga Regional Community Gardens Entrance Mosaic

Applicant: Woolgoolga Regional Community Gardens Inc.

This is a community art project where locals and members of the Woolgoolga Regional Community Gardens work with professional artist Pamela Denise to create a stunning mosaic roundella 2 metres in diameter for the new pavement at the Garden’s Entrance. Pamela will be setting up a Mosaic Studio in the Garden’s covered Meeting Place, open to the public, to run in the usual Garden hours for 10 days. It’s about learning a mosaic technique and materials suitable for an external path and working together on a creative arts project to enhance a shared community space.