A wide-ranging initiative aimed at making theatre more accessible in Coffs Harbour has secured funding to progress its vision through the City of Coffs Harbour Council’s Arts and Cultural Development Grants Program 2026/27.
Coffs Harbour Musical Comedy Company is one of nine initiatives to gain support through the grants program. It will receive $6,000 for ‘Breaking Barriers Accessible Theatre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Audiences’.
The project focuses on three main areas: Providing Auslan-interpreted performances for upcoming productions in 2026 and 2027, strengthening engagement with the local deaf community to ensure inclusive and culturally appropriate delivery, and investing in assistive listening technology to enhance audio access.
“Coffs Harbour is blessed with an incredibly diverse community – it is one of our real strengths. The wide range of activities to win funding through the program this year reflects the richness of our cultural life,” said Mayor, Nikki Williams.
City Events, Sport and Cultural Services Group Leader, Sharon McDougall said there had been strong interest in this year’s funding round, with 21 eligible applications.
“It was a competitive process with the assessment panel scoring each application against the grant criteria,” Ms McDougall said.
The other projects to secure funding are:
- Woolgoolga and Northern Beaches Chamber of Commerce, $5,900, for ‘20th year Curryfest’. This project is to add new cultural elements to the festival both on the main day and for additional Bollywood cabaret performances on surrounding days to enhance the tourism spin-off for the Coffs Coast economy.
- Arran Saunders, $2,000, for ‘Clay Connections’. A community arts project which will bring together women from refugee and culturally diverse backgrounds to explore memory, identity and connection through clay and storytelling. Through facilitated workshops in ceramics and wool wrapping, participants will share cultural knowledge, build creative skills and form social connections. The project will capture participants’ stories through group sharing and audio recordings, which will inform a collaborative art installation.
- Jade Symons, $2,500, for ‘Somewhere on Gumbaynggirr Country’. Led by local historian Jade Symons, the project undertakes to produce a published book of 25-30 stories, host public conversation events, and share content through social media and local organisations. The storytelling and interview series will document and share the diverse lived experiences of people in Coffs Harbour, including refugees, migrants, long-term locals, Gumbaynggirr community members, and other culturally diverse residents.
- Taranta Arts Inc, $7,000, for ‘Taranta Festival Opening Night at Jetty Theatre’. The one-night gala concert at the Jetty Memorial Theatre on 29 October will feature the Taranta Orchestra and visiting artists from the Taranta Festival 2026. The performance will showcase traditional Southern Italian folk music from regions including Puglia, Calabria and Basilicata. Serving as the official opening of the Taranta Festival, the event builds on the success of the 2025 gala and expands the format with a larger ensemble and international artists.
- Woolgoolga Art Group Inc, $3,540, for ‘Let’s Face It’. To coincide with the Archibald Prize 2025 exhibition at Yarrila Arts and Museum from 6 August, Woolgoolga Art Gallery will hold a portraiture exhibition preceded by two professional artist-led portraiture workshops. The exhibition of local artists’ work will run from 7 August to 11 September.
- Sawtell Art Gallery, $3,500, for ‘Bridging Worlds Intergenerational Art Studio’. This creative program at Sawtell Art Gallery will connect young people (aged 9-15) and older community members (65+) through a series of facilitated art sessions. Over eight weeks, participants will collaborate and create works across drawing, painting, sculpture and mixed media, sharing skills, perspectives and life experiences in a two-way exchange. Led by professional facilitators and artist mentors, the project will conclude with a public exhibition and opening event, alongside a digital publication capturing artworks, stories and participant reflections.
- Michael Bryers, $5,500, for ‘Sawtell Chilli Festival’. Expanded cultural programming with a ‘Chilli World Tour’ theme celebrating global food, music, dance and street-based installations.
- Samantha Ross, $4,000, for ‘Heart Farm Rural Company’ – a regional dance and movement project developing original performance work through creative intensives, community showcase and workshops.
