Country Arts SA recognises that we are living and creating on First Nations Lands and we are committed to working together to honour their living cultures.
The Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund will provide more than $153,000 to support 13 new community arts projects by 35 artists across regional South Australia.
The latest grant round saw 38% of successful applicants to the Regional Arts Fund nominate community capacity building as the primary outcome of their project. The round also attracted eight first-time applicants. Four exciting projects are creating and presenting theatre in new and innovative ways.
Commencing after 1 January 2018, applications include a project to record camp stories from the last of the Adnyamathanha people of the northern Flinders Ranges, the development of cultural tourism through a pioneering digital project in the Riverland and the creation of an art trail along the Old Ghan railway line.
Successful initiatives in the latest round of funding include:
The Misery Children Group – The World is Looking for You
Donald McKenzie – Trial by Fire | Mentorship
Adnyamathanha Yura Language and Heritage Association – Wirti Vunga: Yura Camp Stories
The Australian Government shows its support for regional artists and arts organisations to develop their artistic practice through the Regional Arts Fund, which has an emphasis on youth, the disadvantaged, remote and Indigenous communities.
Funding targets activities that will have long term cultural, economic and social benefits for individuals and communities. Regional Arts Funding will assist communities and individuals through the development of partnerships and cultural networks, by providing artists with professional development and employment opportunities, and by supporting arts and community development projects that provide local communities with opportunities to access exciting arts and cultural activities.
The Regional Arts Fund is administered on behalf of the Australian Government by Regional Arts Australia and its member organisations which include Country Arts SA.
The next funding round closes on 15 March 2018 for projects that commence after 1 July 2018. More information about the Regional Arts Fund is available from Country Arts SA on 08 8444 0400 or visit www.countryarts.org.au
Adnyamathanha Yura Language and Heritage Association – COPLEY $4,290
Wirti Vunga: Yura Camp Stories
A collection of memoirs will be created with the Adnyamathanha elders that will become a precious record of camp life, spoken language and camp law and to preserve the cultural knowledge for future generations. A small short-story book will also be created to provide greater awareness to the wider community.
Wirrabara Community Tourism & Development Group – WIRRABARA $3,270
Wirrabara Sculpture Project
Sculptor Malcolm Craig will deliver a series of skills development workshops to artists and community members of Wirrabara. The outcome of the workshops will be an iconic sculpture for the town, instigating the beginnings of a sculpture trail within the Wirrabara arboretum.
Mount Gambier City Band Incorporated – MOUNT GAMBIER $4,998
Learners to Leaders Development Program
Award winning Musical Director, Walter Pope, will deliver intensive skills development workshops to emerging musical directors, as part of the Mount Gambier City Band Development Program.
Ben Walker-Cutts – SEPPELTSFIELD $4,980
Barry Gardner Mentorship
Emerging craftsman Ben Cutts will be mentored by Master Knife Maker Barry Gardner in the art of Japanese pattern welding in steel through a forge welding process at the Jam Factory studio in Seppeltsfield Winery.
The Waikerie District Historical Society Inc. – WAIKERIE $19,752
Collectors Collections: Waikerie Films
Members of the Waikerie District Historical Society will be mentored by lead artists Paul Gazzola and Nadia Cusimano in the presentation and preservation of historical footage captured by local amateur film making enthusiasts. The project will unite the community in celebrating its cinematic past with shopfront and outdoor wall projections, 3 day exhibition and a community film event.
Marree Progress Association – MARREE $19,683
Artback Rail Trail
Environmental artist Raylene Klinger, visual artist Susan Michael and local Marree community members will immerse themselves in the creation of two public art works, resulting in the development of the Artback Rail Trail, connecting small towns along the Darwin-Adelaide train line.
Gener8 Theatre – MOUNT GAMBIER $20,000
Cold As Ice- Finale
Created by Gener8 Theatre, Cold as Ice is a new form of immersive storytelling incorporating virtual reality technology to explore the social issues around the use of amphetamines. The final stage of development will lead to an exciting premier event to be held at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre in Mount Gambier in 2018.
Donald McKenzie – PORT AUGUSTA $6,580
Trial by Fire
Ceramicist Andrew Allen will collaborate with gifted Aboriginal artist Donald McKenzie over a ten-day residency to create an exhibition of work for Tarnanthi Festival in 2019. Building on techniques learnt, Mr McKenzie will be enabled to run his own ceramic workshops in his own community.
Raukkan Community Council – RAUKKAN $10,484
Raukkan Writing and Acting workshops
Playwrights Glenn Shea and Alexis West will deliver skills development workshops in storytelling and acting as part of the Aboriginal Diggers playwriting residency being held in Raukkan in 2018.
The Misery Children Group – MOUNT GAMBIER / ADELAIDE $19,790
The World is Looking for You
Award winning South Australian Writer, Finnegan Kruckemeyer, will collaborate with Misery Children director Daisy Brown and performer Sarah Brokensha to create the first stage of an innovative theatre work The World is Looking for You that will explore the themes of loss of self and identity.
D’faces of Youth Arts – WHYALLA $12,252
Life Lessons
Through the art forms of digital media and theatre Stu Nankivell and Claire Glenn will bring together young people, aged care residents and the local writers group to create verbatim theatre and multimedia performance works. Stories collected from senior community members will be developed into an important historical publication for the community of Whyalla.
West Coast Youth and Community Support Inc. – PORT LINCOLN $7,830
Ocean Arts and Soulful Stories
This arts and cultural sharing project takes place in the Giant Tipi on the foreshores of Port Lincoln. The project connects artists, young people and community through ten days of creative arts and culture workshops as part of SALT Festival April 2018.
Riverland Youth Theatre – BERRI $19,976
Story Town Riverland
Story Town Riverland is a digital storytelling experience that puts the reader in the story. Content for a smartphone app will be created that will combine adventure style fictional stories with physical real world locations. Story Town Riverland will benefit locals and tourists as a new way to discover the Riverland.
The Skills Development Fund is managed by Country Arts SA on behalf of the South Australian Government through Arts South Australia, that supports arts and community cultural development projects, which benefit regionally based artists, arts workers and communities.
Yorke Peninsula Art Exhibition Working Party – YORKETOWN $3,000
Landscape of Yorkes
Award winning photographer Peter Dobe will deliver a workshop in Landscape Photography to build the skills and network of local photographers. Participants will have the opportunity to exhibit their work at the Yorke Peninsula Art Exhibition that will ultimately promote the Yorke Peninsula as a tourist and cultural destination.
ArtsUp Streaky Bay – STREAKY BAY $3,000
Streaky Ceramics
Visual artist Pam Diment together with developing country artists Donna Legovini and Liz McTaggart will deliver three one day workshops in ceramic techniques to the Streaky Bay ArtsUp Group members and Streaky Bay community participants.
Country Arts SA recognises that we are living and creating on First Nations Lands and we are committed to working together to honour their living cultures.