Cobargo Folk Festival has received a NSW Government grant that means certainty of core operational funding for the next two years. Photo: Dr Michael Holland’s office.
Cobargo Folk Festival and Bermagui’s Four Winds event have received grants for core operational funding for the next two years.
They are among 22 organisations across NSW that have been supported through more than $7.7 million from the State Government’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program, announced in the last week of August.
The reformed program supports creative organisations across every art form, enabling them to employ and develop artists and arts workers, foster long-term strategic partnerships and make lasting and impactful arts and cultural experiences accessible for all.
Cobargo Folk Festival is produced and presented by the community-owned, not-for-profit Yuin Folk Club. The funding will enable the club to transition into a sustainable arts organisation nurturing music education and development, and the performing arts. This will future-proof the folk festival, support regional artists, deepen partnerships and encourage community participation in live performances.
Yuin Folk Club president Peter Logue said group members were delighted to receive the significant funding that would allow them to build on the great work done by the club and festival over almost 30 years.
“This is also very good news for performers and lovers of music in the Bega Valley and beyond,” Mr Logue said. “It will allow us to extend our activities beyond the festival, support local artists to develop new exciting projects, and build an education program that will help children and adults to enjoy the wonder of folk music and dance.
“It will also help us engage more with our community and with other arts organisations within that community. We thank the Minns Government and particularly [MP] Dr Michael Holland, who has been a strong supporter in what we do here in Cobargo.”
Four Winds Spring Youth Music Festival 2024. Photo: David Rogers Photography.
Four Winds’ funding will help create musical experiences at the highest artistic level. These will encourage artists, audiences, participants and communities, including regional NSW, First Nations and young people, to be involved in the arts through an annual program of commissions, concerts and development.
Four Winds made the transition in 2023 from primarily an annual festival to all-year programming, and broadened the genre of music offered, providing more residencies and developing First Nations-led work. It now offers more than 32 events a year, including residencies and commissions, and builds the Four Winds Community Orchestra and commissions new pieces for it.
Four Winds executive director Leigh Small said community accessibility had also been increased by presenting Sunday afternoon concerts with reduced ticket prices and free for people aged 16 and under.
“We are thrilled to receive the endorsement and support from Create NSW for this transition,” Ms Small said. “Thirty-five per cent of our audiences have never been to Four Winds before, which is very exciting, and getting the endorsement of those who have been coming over the years.”
Four Winds hosted the Warigamban – A Long Time Ago installation by Cheryl Davison. Photo: David Rogers Photography.
Bega Local Aboriginal Land Council also received funding. CEO Leanne Atkinson said an exciting new Aboriginal Cultural Arts program was set to celebrate and strengthen community connections through song, dance and language.
The initiative will bring together Elders, artists and dancers to share traditional knowledge and inspire new creative works across generations. Workshops will offer participants the chance to learn cultural practices, storytelling and musical skills, while also supporting the development of local artists.
“The program will begin with community consultation, followed by a second phase focused on skill-building and creative development in song and dance,” Ms Atkinson said.
Expressions of interest are now open for facilitators keen to lead the song-and-dance component of the project, which is expected to run for about 12 months.
“We aim to develop the program in collaboration with South East Arts, and the project is proudly supported by the NSW Government,” Ms Atkinson said.
Other successful Eurobodalla and Bega Valley-based applicants in this round of Next Steps Project Funding include three individuals who have not been identified for privacy reasons. They will be supported in a leadership and governance program, a mentorship in Tokyo, and a First Nations cultural project.
All applications funded were assessed and recommended against published criteria and ranked in order of merit and impact by the 10 Artform Boards.
State Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland said he was delighted to see the Cobargo Folk Festival and Four Winds receive the funding.
“These organisations are at the heart of our region’s creative community, nurturing local talent, celebrating our cultural identity, and bringing people together through the arts,” Dr Holland said.
“This important multi-year investment gives them the certainty they need to grow, plan for the future and deliver inspiring cultural experiences for audiences across the Far South Coast.”
