The Country Arts WA team has just returned from Junction 2010; Regional Arts Australia's national conference and arts festival which was held in Launceston Tasmania from 26 - 29 August. the conference was successful and over 700 delegates from around Australia and across the world were in attendance.

Commencing on the Thursday evening delegates proceeded through the street of Launceston to witness the moving opening ceremony Weavings which featured a choir of community members and a welcome from the Palawa people.

The conference moved through a number of themes over the proceeding days, opening with Mike White from Durham in the UK exploring the interactions between arts and health and what this can mean for the well-being of communities both local and remote.

Dr Ernesto Sirolli was another highlight with his message that you should always do what you love and find others to do what you hate, a message which resonated with all the delegates present and certainly led to some entertaining discussions!

Popular concurrent sessions included Dance Like A Man, Yarn On - A Hands On Session with the Knitting Room and the presentation of the Drive project by bigHart which used film to the risks young men take when they first reach driving age.

As one delegate Leanne Hurst commented on the Junction 2010 facebook page "Mike White, Ernesto Sirolli and our own home-grown young emerging community cultural development practitioners - lots of inspiration today!"

Enveloping and intersecting the conference was the Junction Arts Festival which was packed with performances, installations, exhibitions and creative exchanges throughout Launceston, in buildings, on the streets, up trees and just about anywhere you looked.

The pulsating heart of the conference was Civic Square which featured the cabaret club The Junc Room, projections by artist Cindi Drennan, roving performers, dancers and the public, interacting, enjoying and soaking up the explosion of colour and movement which lit of Launceston in the middle of winter.

Julie Boyd, President of Regional Arts Australia said "To see everyone come together to interact and share from all corners of this country was incredibly empowering. We have talked with each other, challenged each other and had a few laughs along the way, and we certainly look forward to gathering together in Goolwa South Australia in 2012 to see what future directions and inspirations we can share with each other

The next Regional Arts Australia conference will be held in Goolwa, South Australia from 18 - 21 October 2012

Lead singer of Saltwater Band, Manuel Ngulupani Dhurrkay, and up-and-coming Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands-based band, Iwantja, will tour to Alice Springs, Amata, Warakurna and Warburton this September on the first ever Sand Tracks cross-border tour.

The Sand Tracks remote Indigenous contemporary music touring program was born out of a desire by Country Arts WA to have a more frequent and greater involvement with remote Indigenous communities.

The program has a strong focus on skills development for both remote Indigenous communities and for the touring bands.

"The Sand Tracks touring program is an exciting and bold new initiative by Country Arts WA made possible through support from the State of Western Australia through the Department of Culture and the Arts," said Jessica Machin, Chief Executive Officer of Country Arts WA.

"Through Sand Tracks, we hope to fill a gap that exists in access to arts experiences in remote Indigenous communities in Western Australia - and generate conversation about a national remote Indigenous touring strategy.

"Support for the program has been overwhelming. There has been surge of momentum as a result of the Cultural Ministers Council Indigenous Contemporary Music Action Plan and because of a rise in popularity of contemporary Indigenous music thanks to artists like Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu and Black Arm Band who have been able to break through to the mainstream market," she said.

One of the aims of the program is to develop viable remote touring circuits. By offering skills-development to communities Country Arts WA hopes to create a network of presenters in Ngaanyatjarra Lands, Northern Territory and Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands capable of planning for and hosting gigs in the future.

"No one else in the country is touring like this," Ms Machin said.

"Thanks to the partnership with Country Arts SA and Carclew Youth Arts along with the support from the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts along with the Music Board of the Australia Council we're touring cross-border to some of the most remote parts of the country. Remote touring is not easy, but we believe it's important in building vibrant and healthy communities in remote Australia and to support the development of the contemporary Indigenous music scene."

The bands selected to tour for the 2010 tour, Manuel Ngulupani Dhurrkay and Iwantja, were selected through a community voting process, similar to the successful model used for Country Arts WA's Shows on the Go program for close to 15 years.

This is Manuel's first tour as a solo artist. The tour will give Manual an opportunity to broaden his audience base and develop his skills as a solo artist.

Iwantja is one of Australia's most exciting emerging bands. The band recently secured funding through the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts' Breakthrough Indigenous contemporary music pilot initiative to record their first studio album. The band plans to record the album at Winanjjikari Studio in late 2010.

Tour dates:

The 2010 Sand Tracks tour is made possible through support from the State of Western Australia through the Department of Culture and the Arts, the Australian Government through the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and the Australia Council's Music Board, Country Arts SA, Carclew Youth Arts and Skinnyfish Music. Tour coordination by Country Arts WA.

For more information visit http://www.countryartswa.asn.au/   

For media enquiries, interviews or print quality images contact:
Megan Roberts, Communications Officer
08 9200 6202, 0403 990 486, regional freecall 1800 811 883 or mroberts@countryartswa.asn.au

The Geraldton Gathering - WA's Premier Regional Arts Event - which will be held from Tuesday 13 to Friday 16 September 2011 - is expected to attract more than 300 people from the arts, community development, health, youth and government sectors to the Mid West region.

Support for the event has come from the Royalties for Regions Mid West Regional Grant Scheme, the State of Western Australia through the State of Western Australia through the Department of Culture and the Arts and the City of Geraldton-Greenough.

Country Arts WA's Vice Chair, Simon Clarke, said the contracting of Sean Doran is an exciting move by the organisation.

"This is the first time Country Arts WA has contracted an artistic director for a major regional arts event. Doran's appointment marks a major shift in the way Country Arts WA is approaching its quadrennial regional arts event.

Doran will be building a world-class artistic program to complement the conference program. This event will cater for visitors and locals alike and projects and works will be developed that will leave a lasting legacy in the Mid West," he said.

Mr Clarke said Doran is an internationally renowned arts manager and festival director having led festivals and arts companies in Australia and the UK including directorships of the Perth International Arts Festival and the English National Opera in London.

As Festival Director of the Perth Festival, he is best known for his commission of 51 sculptures at Lake Ballard by Turner Prize-winning artist Antony Gormley in 2003 and for leaving PIAF with a range of successful legacies including its contemporary music venue (now Beck's Music Box), annual Perth Writers Festival, PIAF in the Great Southern and the Joondalup outdoor cinema program.

"This is an exciting new challenge for me alongside my other work here in regional Western Australia.  I hold Geraldton and the many people I have engaged with there in high esteem - it is unquestionably one of the most forward thinking environments in WA today," said Mr Doran.

Hon Brendon Grylls MLA, Minister for Regional Development recently announced $50,000 of funding for the conference through the Royalties for Regions Mid West Regional Grants Scheme.

"The State Government, through its Royalties for Regions Regional Grant Scheme, is pleased to be associated with Country Arts WA's 2011 regional arts event in Geraldton.

The event will assist Mid West communities by attracting investment and improving the quality of life in the region. Regional people from across the state will also benefit from having access to quality arts experiences and by engaging in stimulating discussion and debate about the role of arts in a healthy society," he said. 

 "We have a vision of making this an event to remember and Country Arts WA wants to build on current support by attracting more sponsors to realise our programming goals," Mr Clarke said.

Country Arts WA hosts a state arts conference in regional Western Australia every four years. The 2011 event will build upon the successful PULSE state regional arts conference hosted by Country Arts WA in Denmark in 2007.

For media enquiries, interviews or print quality images contact:
Megan Roberts, Communications Officer
08 9200 6202, 0403 990 486, regional freecall 1800 811 883 or mroberts@countryartswa.asn.au

Regional Arts Australia has called on all major parties in the lead up to Saturday's election to ensure that the arts policies on offer support the creative aspirations of the one in three Australians living outside our capital cities.

Speaking in the lead up to the national Regional Arts Australia's conference in Launceston next week, Acting President of Regional Arts Australia,  Mr Lee Cole,  has urged regional voters to closely consider the relative policy positions of each party prior to Saturday's election.

‘Each of the major parties has indicated varying positions on the importance they place on regional arts and culture.  Both Labor and the Greens have flagged a greater role for the Australia Council in delivering grant programs with Prime Minister Julia Gillard announcing early this week that six major arts funding programs, including Playing Australia, Visions of Australia, Festivals Australia, the Contemporary Music Touring program, the Regional Arts Fund and the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, will move from the federal department to the Sydney-based Australia Council.

While we welcome the greater focus that this will give the Australia Council on regional arts, Regional Arts Australia is keen to maintain the current effective devolved funding arrangements through state based agencies for the Regional Arts Fund.' said Mr Cole.

Since 2001 Regional Arts Australia and its member agencies have collaboratively managed the Regional Arts Fund on behalf of the Department of Environment Water Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA). Over this time the program has become a best practice model of Commonwealth/State and Territory collaboration when compared with other cross government arrangements.

‘The return on investment on this program is significant with every dollar invested returning three dollars in external support. With on-ground staff working in regional, remote and very remote areas, RAA agencies have dramatically increased arts participation in these communities. One example is that the Regional Arts Fund now delivers an impressive 18% successful application rate for Indigenous arts projects across the country,' Mr Cole said.
 
‘This is a tribute to the hard work of our member agencies in each state, nurturing and supporting cultural development at a grass roots level.'

In comparison, the Coalition has announced that the Regional Arts Fund is to be retained and increased over the next four years which confirms that all parties see this program as a vital cultural development resource.

‘Regional communities miss out when a one-size-fits-all approach is applied to arts funding delivery.  Strong regional economies and societies can only be achieved with the support of programs that nurture cultural vibrancy and liveability at the grass roots level.'

‘On behalf of the 8.5 million Australians who live outside major cities, we urge Ms Gillard, Mr Abbott and Mr Brown  to assure voters that extensive sector consultation will take place with Regional Arts Australia and other national arts bodies before any significant changes are made that impact on arts program delivery to regional Australians' added Mr Cole.

Arts Policy Documents

With the Federal election only days away the major parties have begun releasing their Arts Policies. We've seen specific statements from the Australian Labor Party and The Greens and received via email a media release from Steve Ciobo, the Shadow Minister for Tourism, the Arts, Youth and Sport.

Listed below are downloadable pdf documents that you can access and make up your own mind about which party has the policy that appeals to you most.

Australian Labor Party

Liberal Party of Australia

The Australian Greens

Contacting your local Member

Click here to visit the Australian Electoral Commission website and easily find your local member's contact details.

In the midst of the federal election frenzy of news, debate, claim and counter claim there has been precious little, if anything, said by either major party in relation to the arts.

ArtsPeak, the national peak arts organisation representing a confederation of twenty five national peak arts groups, yesterday expressed its concern about the absence of arts discussion during this election period and has today outlined its vision for cultural policy in Australia.

ArtsPeak claims that 90 percent of all Australians participate in the arts and cites the election as time for leaders to set a cultural agenda for Australia that will position our innovative, creative individuals and organisations for success both at home and internationally.

ArtsPeak has challenged all political parties to develop cultural policies which explore and respond to issues such as:

• connecting cultural policy into all key aspects of government policy eg health, education, the economy, social cohesion
• expanding support for the creation and presentation of new Australian work, artistic risk-taking and international sales, touring and exchange
• giving effect to International Conventions on the rights for all people to receive an adequate education in the arts and culture and to have opportunities to make a creative contribution to and/or participate in the cultural activities of their choice
• recognising and expanding the key contribution made by Australia's creative industries to the national economy by establishing a support framework for arts micro businesses and SMEs, and adopting a national design strategy
• ensuring the protection of artistic creators' rights within a human rights framework, including freedom of expression, fair industry practices, copyright and moral rights and protecting Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights
• introducing policy to facilitate artistic enterprise including providing tax incentives and tax relief for artists and organisations, and reform of social security arrangements to genuinely assist artists to build their careers
• forging a national research agenda for arts and culture based on collecting and analysing adequate statistical and qualitative data that identifies both economic and social return on investment to support wise policy development and private investment
• applying the principles of the UNESCO Convention for Cultural Diversity both within Australia and by protecting Australian culture in the context of international trade agreements

Click here to visit the Asutralian Electoral Commission website and easily find your local member's contact details. Let them know how important a comprehensive arts and culture policy is to you.

The valuable work that Western Australian volunteers contribute to the artistic and cultural lives of their communities is being recognised with Regional Arts Australia recently announcing the 2^nd Volunteer Award winners for each state.

The winner for WA in the Sustained Contribution Category is Ngarralja Tommy May from Fitzroy Crossing and in the Outstanding Contribution Category is Malcolm Armstrong from Boyup Brook.

Tommy May has contributed considerably to regional arts in Australia over the past 25 years. In that time his contributions include being an active Board Member to numerous arts and cultural organisations; involvement in numerous high profile and local projects; contributing to numerous publications and films that promote Aboriginal art, and educate on artists rights and cultural knowledge; attending many cultural and arts festivals - as a dancer, law boss, artist and representative; inclusion in more than 50 exhibitions nationally and internationally promoting indigenous arts; and travelling to many shows increasing profile and understanding of Aboriginal art.

Malcolm Armstrong has played an integral role as Volunteer Treasurer for the Boyup Brook Country Music Club for the past nine years, working in the Arts sector, developing and supporting the ambitions and creative scope of artists. Malcolm demonstrates true leadership qualities and assisted in bringing the Club back from difficult times and moving it to a new level. Over the years he has developed and implemented innovative fundraising ideas and stuck his neck out to make the ideas work. Malcolm is passionate and enthusiastic volunteer and is a tremendous driving force behind a number of local organisations.

Tommy and Malcolm now have the opportunity to receive their awards at Regional Arts Australia's national conference Junction 2010 which is to be held in Launceston (TAS) from 26-29 August 2010. Each recipient will receive a commissioned artwork by Tasmanian artist Sonja Hindrum, presented by the Patron of Regional Arts Australia, Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, at the conference dinner.

The total prize package for each recipient is valued at over $1,800 including the commissioned artwork, a registration to Junction 2010, as well as their travel and accommodation costs.

Board Member of Regional Arts Australia and Chief Executive Officer of Country Arts WA, Jessica Machin says the awards are a real way for the sector to recognise the efforts of the many dedicated arts volunteers from right across the country.

"I would like to congratulate both Tommy and Malcolm for their wonderful commitment to the arts and their communities" she said.

 "Without volunteers many regional arts events simply wouldn't happen, and Regional Arts Australia is proud to recognise this effort through our Volunteer Awards. I also congratulate the many wonderful candidates who were nominated for this award, we deeply appreciate their individual efforts".

Registrations for Regional Arts Australia's national conference Junction 2010 are currently open (early bird registrations close 18 June 2010), see http://www.junction2010.com/ for info.  For more information on Regional Arts Australia's activities and the full list of award recipients go to http://www.regionalarts.com.au/

$98,626 cash injection for arts projects in regional Western Australia

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, the Hon Peter Garrett today announced $98,626 of funding for arts projects in regional, rural and very remote/isolated Western Australia thanks to the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund.

The funding, through the Projects and Residencies program, will support three  projects in the Kimberley region, one in the Great Southern, two in the Peel and two in the South West covering art forms including music, printmaking, visual arts, theatre and literature*.

The Projects and Residencies program supports communities to work with professional artists and cultural advisers to create work in any art form that is innovative and has the potential to develop partnerships across the community.

Country Arts WA's Chief Executive Officer, Jessica Machin, said she's pleased to be funding several projects in remote Indigenous communities and projects which involve young people as these are two of Country Arts WA's priority areas.

"There's an exciting range of projects being funded from music and dance workshops in Halls Creek to site-specific art at Kwoorabup Art Walk Trail on the Denmark River to an exhibition and community workshops by Tjyllyungoo Lance Chadd exploring places and laws of the Bindjareb people." 

Simon Clarke, Chair of the Regional Arts Fund Panel in Western Australia, said that the round was highly competitive with a significant increase in total applications received compared with the previous round. 

"The Panel was pleased by the number of applications that addressed the priority areas of Indigenous arts and culture and children and young people.

"We were also pleased to receive applications from eight out of the nine regions in WA. I believe it's an indication of the strength and vitality of the arts sector in regional Western Australia." he said.

The next Regional Arts Fund closing date for Western Australia is Friday, 13 August 2010 for the Projects and Residencies and Mentorship Programs. For more information contact a member of the Regional Arts Development team at Country Arts WA on regional freecall 1800 811 883.

Projects Funded:

Kimberley

Puranyangu-Rangka Kerrim Aboriginal Corporation                                    $15,000
Nguyuru Warringarrem Halls Creek Music Workshops
Music and dance development workshops in Halls Creek in response to the professional developmental needs identified by local performers.

Kununurra Community Library                                                                        $17,730
Kimberley Writer's Festival
The Kimberley Writer's Festival entertains and inspires the residents of, and visitors to, the East Kimberley with a variety of authors, musicians, songwriters, storytellers and illustrators who share their life stories, expertise and love of the written and spoken word. The Festival is organised by the Kununurra Community Library and supported by the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley and the Kununurra District High School.

Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency Aboriginal Corporation                           $15,000
Fitzroy Stories 
Four local Indigenous artists from each of the four main language groups will be given demonstrations and workshops in basket weaving, painting, animation and traditional artefact making and carving.

Great Southern

Denmark Arts Council (Inc.)                                                                             $18,000
Mandjar Kwoorabup
Funding will go towards the creation of Indigenous site-specific art and associated cultural ceremony along the new Kwoorabup Art Walk Trail on the Denmark River, and to seed-training for Indigenous artists from the Great Southern in site-specific art.

Peel

Serpentine Historical Society Inc                                                                   $10,000
Living Histories 
The project will employ an Indigenous and non-Indigenous artist to facilitate community participation in the design, development and contruction of public artworks to be installed at various locations throughout the town of Serpentine and surrounds. The trail will highlight traditional and contemporary Indigenous and non-Indigenous sites of significance.

Pinjarra Katijin                                                                                                   $10,000
Bindjareb 
An exhibition and community workshops by Tjyllyungoo Lance Chadd providing an artistic interpretation of the places and laws of the Bindjareb people.

South West

Collaboration WA Inc.                                                                                          $9,896
Collaboration WA Bunbury 2010 
Collaboration WA will bring together a group of artists that work in various mediums and encourage and inspire them through collaborative processes. Collaboration WA will engage the local community through public demonstrations and the public auction of all works created at the artist workshop.

Stark Raven Theatre Company Inc.                                                                  $3,000
Theatre Production - Amy 
Stark Raven Theatre Company will conduct community workshops as a prelude to production of a professionally directed play Amy, which is set in and relevant to the region.

Regional Arts Australia recently released its goals for the next five years. After consulting with regional Australians across the country the views of regional Australians were considered during a Regional Arts Australia National Roundtable Conference.

The Hon. Peter Garrett AM MP opened the national roundtable at the start of a conversation about building partnerships between arts and other organisations to help create strong and healthy regional communities.

Roundtable participants were Chairs and Chief Executive Officers of regionally active agencies, service and advocacy bodies, regional media, the philanthropy sector, economic development sector, and regional not for profit organisations.

Julie Boyd, President of Regional Arts Australia says that ‘with over 85% of Regional Arts Australia constituents believing that the arts play a vital role in community wellbeing and entertainment, and 85% also advising that partnerships between the arts and other organisations are happening within their communities it's time to get our heads together for some combined action to create better lives for regional Australians.

A child growing up in regional Australia is likely to have their first arts experience at a local Agricultural Show, in a workshop run by the local CWA, or at a street fair run by the local Rural Fire Brigade.

Regional Australia is a unique place to grow up, with unique challenges, and we want to make it even better!'

The consultation and national directions proposed by Regional Arts Australia represent a new way of working - in partnership, where the arts can work with a wide range of allied organisations to help achieve the broader goals of regional development.

Organisations represented at the National Roundtable include Barossa and Light Regional Development Board Inc, Federation of Ethnic Communities' Council of Australia, Economic Development Australia, Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Volunteering Australia, Philanthropy Australia, Centenary of Canberra, National Rural Health Alliance,

YMCA Australia, Australian Hotels Association, University of the Third Age Network, Disability Services Australia, Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, ABC TV, SBS, Australian Library and Information Association, National Institute for Rural and Regional Australia, Reconciliation Australia and Museums Australia.

Download a copy of the consultation report at www.regionalarts.com.au

Further information please contact:
Beverly Growden, Coordinator National Roundtable beverly.growden@bigpond.com or Ph: 0417903318

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, the Hon Peter Garrett recently announced $713,800 of funding for arts and cultural activity in regional, rural and very remote/isolated Western Australia thanks to the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund.

The following individuals, projects and organisations were funded from the August round of the Regional Arts Fund.  

Mentorship Funding (emerging)

Elaine Tribbick  $15,000
My Family Tree | Pilbara
Over the course of her mentorship Elaine will learn all processes involved with publishing a book. She will devise, author, illustrate and create a children's book with guidance from her mentor author/artist Matt Ottley.

Manjimup Family Centre   $6,680
B@M Recording Studio Training Program | South West
A group of young people in Manjimup will be mentored by Western Australian music industry leaders Brett Nelli, George Nikoloudis, Shaun O'Callaghan and Stuart Giblett to gain the skills necessary to operate of an existing recording studio, to be used by young musicians and bands, including skills in recording, mixing and mastering.

Mentorship Funding (mid career)

David Hyde | Goldfields-Esperance   $25,000
David will work with South West-based photographer John Austin to further develop his skills in fine art photography and professional development as artists. David plans to present a major exhibition of work portraying people and place in the South West and Goldfields-Esperance regions as an outcome of the mentorship.

Projects & Residencies Funding

Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation   $15,120
Evolution (Through Our Eyes) | Pilbara
Juluwarlu will provide specialist arts development and community based cultural project experiences for nine Indigenous people in Roebourne.

Shire of Mullewa   $20,000
Made by Hand, Inspired by Nature | Mid West
Shire of Mullewa will offer jewelry making workshops to the local community. The workshops will be run by artists-in-residence.

Wila Gutharra Community Aboriginal Corporation   $7,000
Old School Sense of Place Workshops | Mid West
Wila Gutharra Community Aboriginal Corporation will offer a series of workshops at the Old School Site that will celebrate sense of place. Participants will gain skills in a range of art forms including, mosaic and metal. The project seeks to overcome barriers for unemployed Indigenous people in the Northampton community.

Theatre Kimberley   $25,000
An Ideal Husband | Kimberley
Theatre Kimberley will produce and perform a Broome version of Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband. Performers will be drawn from the core of young people between the ages of fifteen to twenty. The show will tour to Derby, Fitzroy Crossing and possibly Port Hedland.

Strategic Regional Partnerships (funds over 3 years)

Ngaanyatjarra Media Aboriginal Corporation  $150,000
Ngaanyatjarra Music Development Program | Goldfields-Esperance
Over three years Ngaanyatjarra Media Aboriginal Corporation will work with communities in region to establish a vibrant music industry.

The program will include music skills development, performance and festivals, recording, touring and business development.

Kimberley Language Resource Centre   $150,000
Halls Creek Arts Development Project | Kimberley
The Kimberley Language Resource Centre will develop an arts program in Halls Creek that provides opportunities for the development of sustainable social and economic capacity based on the local Indigenous art and culture.

Arts Agencies (funds over 3 years)

Disability in the Arts, Disadvantage in the Arts (DADAA)   $150,000
DADAA Regional Arts and Health Program | Statewide
DADAA will work in the South West, Goldfields-Esperance and Kimberley regions, extending the cultural aspirations and community participation of regional Western Australians with a physical and/or intellectual disability and/or mental illness and/or those experiencing disadvantage through an engaging multi-arts community cultural development program.

Western Australian Music Industry Association (WAM)  $150,000
WAM Regional Program | Statewide
WAM will employ a fulltime Regional Officer who will provide support for regional Western Australian musicians/bands. WAM will also provide travel funding for the key members of its Regional Round Table, create two audio recording through skills development projects in the Wheatbelt and Mid West and will complete a pilot touring circuit /audience development project in the Wheatbelt. 

Applications for 2010 Regional Arts Funding are now being sought. Applications for the first round of Projects and Residencies will close on 12 March 2010 for projects beginning on or after 1 July 2010. For more information click here

The Regional Arts Fund is an Australian Government initiative supporting the arts in regional, rural and very remote/isolated Australia. Country Arts WA manages the program in Western Australia.
http://www.arts.gov.au/arts/regional_arts_fund