Update on CASP Funding for 2026

Dear creative community,

We want to be upfront with you: due to changes in how Orana Arts receives its funding, we will not be delivering the Country Arts Support Program (CASP) in 2026.

The good news ~ plans are already underway to replace CASP with an equivalent small grants program. A formal announcement with full details is coming soon.

We know this is disappointing in the interim. CASP has been one of the most practical and accessible ways for artists and community groups in our region to bring ideas to life, and we're incredibly proud of what our CASP recipients have created across visual arts, writing and performance over the years.

This is also not news we share lightly. Orana Arts is in a genuine period of renewal right now and part of that process means being honest about what we can and can't deliver, and why.

What we can tell you is we haven't stopped looking for ways to create, connect and contribute. We are actively working toward fast-response, flexible funding opportunities that reflect the identity, diversity and creativity of this region. Opportunities that back ideas from our communities in ways that feel true to who we are.

Watch this space. More soon.

In the meantime ~ stay connected, keep creating, and know that regional voices and stories remain at the center of everything we're working toward.

We'll have more to share soon.