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The City of the Blue Mountains is located on the traditional lands of the Darug and Gundungurra Nations and contains many sites that are of cultural and historic significance to Aboriginal people. Culturally the Blue Mountains reflect aspects of both metropolitan Sydney and regional NSW. The population of approximately 77,000 people is clustered around 27 separate settlements along a 100-km ridgeline.
The area has a long established artistic community and was named the Inaugural City of the Arts by the NSW Government in 1995. The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre is under construction which will house a regional art gallery and World Heritage Area interpretive centre. The Blue Mountains also houses important public cultural institutions such as the Varuna Writers Centre, Historic Woodford Academy, Norman Lindsay Gallery, and the Braemar Gallery.
Annual community cultural activities include NAIDOC Week celebrations, City of the Arts Dance Festival, Winter Magic Festival, One Van International Puppet Festival, Blue Mountains Music Festival of Folk, Roots and Blues, and the Cirquinox Circus Festival.
Resources
The Blue Mountains Community Directory contains information about community groups and services, including accommodation, education, environment and conservation, health, and transport. Click here to visit the community directory. The Council also maintains an Artists' Register and Cultural Organisations Register, both of which are specific to the Blue Mountains.
Community Development and Support Expenditure (CDSE) Scheme (clubs funding)
A CDSE Local Committee has been convened in the City of Blue Mountains local government area to identify priorities for Category 1 CDSE funding and make recommendations to the three participating clubs in the area. The Blue Mountains CDSE Local Committee operates in line with CDSE guidelines which can be found at www.clubsnsw.com.au.
Community Donations Program
Council distributes funds under this program which recognises the contribution that community organisations make to the quality of life and wellbeing of the local community. The program assists community organisations to provide a diverse range of activities and services to local residents. Council's contribution to these community organisations builds on and develops their capacity to provide local activities and services. The program opens around April each year.
Click here for more funding sources on the Community Builders website.