> CSU launches its $100,000 Community-University Partnerships grants program for 2018.

> Up to $20,000 available across five different categories to support our regions.

> Launch at CSU in Bathurst today. Online applications here.

> Grants for projects across arts and culture, education, sport, indigenous and discretionary grants for community initiatives.

Grant money totalling $100,000 is now on offer from Charles Sturt University (CSU) for local communities following the launch of the 2018 Community-University Partnerships (CUP) grant program.

CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann said, “The University is offering $100,000 in grants as an investment in the development of our regions.

“Members of our local communities are encouraged to apply for the funding to support their local community groups and activities.

“There’s funding from hundreds of dollars, up to a maximum amount of $20,000 in each grant category,” Professor Vann said.

CUP grants are across five separate categories across arts and culture, education, sport, indigenous, as well as discretionary grants to support small community initiatives.

Launching in Bathurst today, CSU also welcomed successful recipients from last year’s program to congratulate them on their success and for them to share with the community how they spent the grant they received.

One of those was Ms Kylie Shead from the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre which received a CSU CUP Rural and Regional Arts and Culture Program grant to support the annual Bathurst Writers’ and Readers’ Festival.

“With the support of CSU Community-University Partnership grants we have been able to bring professional writers to speak at the festival and at the same time keep the Bathurst Writers’ and Readers’ Festival free and therefore accessible for the community,” Ms Shead said.

Professor Vann said, “Given that winter is just around the corner, we’ve opened the 2018 grant program with the Rural and Regional Sports Development round first and the other grant programs will open in a rolling fashion throughout the year.

“Charles Sturt University has a long and proud tradition of supporting our communities.  The CUP initiative is all about the University supporting groups and organisations in Bathurst and the surrounding region in achieving the goals,” Professor Vann concluded.

Background

Grants are available from five different categories. The CUP Head of Campus Small Grants Program, CUP Rural and Regional Arts and Culture Program, CUP Rural and Regional Education Development Program, CUP Rural and Regional Indigenous Community Engagement Program and CUP Rural and Regional Sports Development Program.

Online applications are now open for the 2018 CUP Rural and Regional Sports Development Program, with the other programs to follow. Further information, application packs and program guidelines can be found here.