Cultural grants for local groups

Peninsula-based organisations were among the 22 recipients of Gosford Council cultural grants on August 27.

One Peninsula group, Mingaletta Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation, received funding for two separate projects.

The first was $4408 for: "Development of a three-day celebration of cultural awareness conducted by Indigenous students enrolled at the Hunter Institute in the Aboriginal Arts and Culture Practices course.

The workshops include traditional Aboriginal dance, storytelling, boomerang painting, wood burning and face painting."

This was intended to "increase cultural awareness, positive learning experience, encourage involvement and participation from indigenous and non-indigenous communities, develop a sense of pride amongst indigenous students in their cultural heritage and enhance their self esteem and celebrate NAIDOC Week".

The second grant, of $5000, for Mingaletta was for a workshop "to assist Aboriginal people of the Gosford area to obtain skills in researching their family history over a period of three days and at the completion of their workshop to continue their research with the knowledge they have obtained over the three days."

This was intended "to empower Aboriginal people to research their family history by way of accessing computer and internet services".

Another successful Peninsula-based recipient was Central Coast Bush Dance and Music Association Inc which is holding "a folk music, dance and poetry festival to be held over a weekend in October at Umina Beach".

The object of the project is for "the promotion of folk music and dance at the highest level for the enjoyment and cultural education of the Central Coast community".

The grant is for $5000.

The Spike Milligan Comedy Festival Inc also received $9000 towards the Woy Woy-based "Spikefest".

"The Gosford Council Community and Cultural Grants this year totalled $200,000 and are the only council-funded program of its type in New South Wales," Cr Bell said.

"The grants are intended as seeding money to encourage new projects that will eventually become self-funded.

"This year we received a record number of applications and there are more groups applying every year," he said.

Council provided funding to help promote cultural and community events throughout the City of Gosford.

Cec Bucello, Press release, September 3