Local community groups and artists just got a big boost for future projects thanks to the Country Arts Support Program (CASP) from Outback Arts. 

Five art projects across the Western Plains that showcase the region's beauty and culture were awarded $14,000. 

"CASP is a significant investment by Outback Arts with the support of Create NSW to provide funds directly to regional areas," Outback Arts CEO Jamie-Lea Trindall said. 

"It is a great initiative that allows regional communities and local people with an opportunity to create and realise their own arts and culture projects." 

This year's successful applicants are: 

• Museum Memories, Nyngan Art Group
• Ngibi Bungganga, Maddy Hope Hodgetts
• Be Inspired, Warren Chamber Music Festival
• Nyngan Community Christmas, Nyngan Christmas Committee
• Yuga-li Mayrra - Celebrate Little Girl, Lorraine King

Nyngan Christmas Joint Committee Member Elyce Bennett said the committee is delighted with the funding for their third Christmas party. 

"We've been lucky enough to get the $3,000 funding from CASP, which is amazing," Ms Bennett said. 

Ms Bennett along with Kristy Sheather and Rachel Matheson, initiated the Nyngan Christmas Party to revitalize fond memories they had as children. 

Organisers Kristy Sheather, Elyce Bennett, and Rachel Matheson at the 2023 Chrismas party.

"When we were kids, there was always a Christmas party in the main street. It was really lovely and there just hadn't been anything like that for such a long time," Ms Bennett said. 

This year, the committee expects the party to be their biggest yet, and the CASP funding will go towards bringing in artists like Sam McBride to set the mood and a photographer to document all the happy memories. 

"It seems that Christmas is coming back everywhere, so we're really happy to be a part of bringing that to this town," Ms Bennett said. 

Lorraine 'Rainy' King from Coonamble is another one of the lucky recipients of the CASP funding. 

Later this year, she will be hosting the two-day Yuga-li Mayrra (Celebrate Little Girl) workshop, giving six to eight young, local, Indigenous girls the opportunity to explore their creative interests and build a bridge with female Elders in their community. 

The first day of the workshop will be held in Ms King's own workshop, where the girls will make headpieces, necklaces, and other jewellery they are interested in.

The jewelry they will wear on the second day, a few weeks later, during a photoshoot. 

The whole process will be recorded to memorialise how the students are feeling and what emotions they are experiencing.

 Lorraine King hopes Elders and young girls in her community will build a connection during the workshop.

All girls will be between the ages of eight to twelve, right before they start puberty and head into high school. 

Local female Elders will join the group to share their experiences going through the same changes. 

"The aim is to build self-confidence, share stories, encourage cultural connection, and engage them in the creative arts scene," Ms King said. 

"I want to start an open conversation about how it's okay to feel insecure and really push the message to find someone you can talk to about it. Don't go through this alone."

The CASP funding will go towards material costs, the photo shoot, and food for the children. 

Six local Aboriginal women will select girls who are currently not engaged with other activities and who they believe will benefit from the activity. 

"I don't want to be the one handpicking the girls. I want to give a cross-section of Aboriginal women in our community the chance to nominate kids from different families they think would benefit." 

"I want to target girls before they go into high school to give them a positive pathway and open a door to the art world."

Although this is the first Yuga-li Mayrra workshop, Ms King hopes to continue the project in future years.