Caringa Enterprises in Grafton has been awarded $5,000 in NSW Government funding for their local project that will be showcased at the 2016 Surfing the Coldstream Festival in Yamba. Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts Andrew Gee joined Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis in Grafton last Friday to congratulate the organisation on their funding win. The $5,000 funding grant is for the organisation’s project Woven Whales, an installation of weavings depicting whale migration. Mr Gee said the NSW Government is focused on ensuring art and culture thrives throughout regional NSW. “Local art projects help build community spirit and I’m proud the NSW Government is ensuring everyone can enjoy quality arts and cultural experiences, no matter where they live,” Mr Gee said. “Supporting art and culture in regional NSW is a priority under the Government’s new Create in NSW 10-year policy framework built on the ambitions of excellence, access and strength.” Mr Gulaptis congratulated Caringa Enterprises on their successful application and wished them well completing the project for the community to enjoy at the festival in October. “The project sounds very ambitious with the three weavings to be created by artists with a disability from My Life Programs and students from Coutts Crossing and Nymboida Public Schools. “I know the leading artist behind the funding application, Pamela Denise is ecstatic about securing the funding so this project can become a reality, and I congratulate her on her creativity and desire to build a collaboration between people with disability and young people in bringing it to life. The funding will be provided through the Country Arts Support Program, administered by Regional Arts NSW on behalf of Arts NSW.