More than $150,000 injected into South Australian regional and remote arts practices

The Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund will provide $155,578 in support of 14 arts projects across regional South Australia.

The latest grant round gives the green light to a range of project types including the development of short films, a cultural traditions exchange, community workshops, public artworks, theatre development and visual arts mentorships.

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cites and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the project grants would support sustainable economic, social and cultural development throughout South Australia.

“I congratulate the 14 recipients of the Regional Arts Fund Project Grants in South Australia, who have each demonstrated how their unique projects will raise the profile of regional arts and broaden community engagement with the cultural sector,” Minister Fletcher said.

“This investment of over $150,000 will support these artists and organisations to develop new networks and diverse works, and is part of the Morrison Government’s $3.6 million annual investment in the Regional Arts Fund across Australia.”

Country Arts SA’s Chief Executive/Executive Director, Anthony Peluso said, “We see every day how important it is to support and empower artists not only for their own benefit but also for their communities’. The projects in this March round are diverse and show the high calibre of artists living in regional South Australia. It is wonderful to see so many different perspectives on art  – we wish all applicants the best in delivering their projects.”

Professional development and the creation of new works were themes for this round, with several applicants delivering mentorships for independent artists and skill development for community members or artwork creation. Successful inititatives in this round include:

Point Pearce Aboriginal Corporation – Narungga/Palawa arts exchange, Yorke Peninsula

The Narungga/Palawa arts exchange is a cultural revival program hosted by the Narungga community of Yorke Peninsula, involving the mentoring of 10 Narungga women in the practice of traditional mariner sea shell necklace making, which is a sleeping arts practice for the Narungga. The Narungga community have invited renowned Palawa artist Aunty Lola Greeno to spend a week on Yorke Peninsula to mentor Narungga women in the artform.

Dave Laslett  – Into Other Worlds, Flinders Ranges

Into Other Worlds is a 16-month photographic exploration of the landscapes of the Far Northern Flinders Ranges by artist Dave Laslett. The artist seeks to explore techniques and skills providing a greater understanding of his practice and how it relates to his past, present and future. The project will include Adnyamathanha cultural learning and mentoring from other photographic practitioners to develop environmental photographic works exploring the themes of survival, identity and place within society.

The Australian Government supports regional artists, arts workers and organisations to develop and expand their artistic practice through the Regional Arts Fund. Where projects are impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, the response from the Office for the Arts and Country Arts SA will be as flexible and supportive as possible.

Funding targets activities that will have long term cultural, economic and social benefits for individuals and communities. Funding through the Regional Arts Fund assists 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 organisations in each state and territory which include Country Arts SA. The next funding round closes mid-August 2021 for projects that commence after 1 January 2022. For more information about the Regional Arts Fund please visit www.countryarts.org.au.

A list of funded projects is below.

REGIONAL ARTS FUND – MARCH 2021

LIST OF PROJECTS FUNDED IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Bridge to Nowhere Arts Association – PORT PIRIE                                                                                             $15,171
Telling Stories Through Art

The Bridge to Nowhere Arts Association will participate in an international, cross-cultural project from July 2021 until June 2022 to stimulate artistic practice in the region following COVID restrictions.

Barossa Art Collective – ANGASTON                                                                                                                       $4,905
Connecting

Artists from Barossa Art Collective will facilitate workshops during school holidays for community members aged 8-16 years to create artworks for the South Australian Living Artists exhibition in Angaston.

Goolwa Community Centre – GOOLWA                                                                                                                 $12,188
Through the Looking Glass

Three south coast artists (Cedric Varcoe, Barbary O’Brien and Mike Tye) will work with community members to create three circular mosaic artworks on the front of the Goolwa Community Centre.

Robertstown War Memorial Community Centre Inc – Mid North                                                           $5,424
Robertstown 150th Anniversary Mural

Local artist Jim Dunstan will create a large painted mural in the main street of Robertstown to be unveiled during the 150th anniversary celebrations in 2021.

Point Pearce Aboriginal Corporation – Yorke Peninsula                                                                            $9,130
Narungga/Palawa Arts Exchange

Point Pearce Aboriginal Corporation will facilitate the Narungga/Palawa arts exchange, a cultural revival program hosted by the Narungga community of Yorke Peninsula involving the mentoring of 10 Narungga women in the practice of traditional mariner sea shell necklace making.

Loxton Chamber of Commerce – Riverland                                                                                                      $23,675
Gopher

Loxton Chamber of Commerce will produce a short film Gopher, a collaboration between the Riverland community and the local Six Foot Four Productions inspired by a local Riverland story about an elderly man’s journey to Adelaide on a gopher to visit his daughter one last time.

Crystal Brook Community Association – Crystal Brook                                                                              $18,912
A Path of Intergenerational Connection

Port Lincoln artist Karen Carr will work with the Crystal Brook community to create a mosaic mural at an aged care facility to celebrate, record and share their stories.

D’faces of Youth Arts Inc. – Whyalla                                                                                                                    $7,370
Dance Connection

D’Faces will employ professional dancers to deliver dance workshops for young Aboriginal people while also providing professional development for its dance teacher and mentees.

Sarah Brokensha – MOUNT GAMBIER                                                                                                                    $14,608
The DB Project

Sarah Brokensha will undertake the first phase development of making a brand new, female-led theatre work ‘The DB Project’ (working title).

Simon Lownsborough – Goolwa                                                                                                                            $4,609
Mentorship with Julie Blyfield

Artist Simon Lownsborough will undertake a mentorship with Julie Blyfield, a recognised arts practitioner working in the fields of silversmithing and object making.

Dr Sue Hawksley – Adelaide Hills                                                                                                                         $13,266
Dwell: Landscape in the figure

Dr Sue Hawksley will produce a short screen work focusing on threatened ecological communities in South Australia, involving a photographer/videographer, a choreographer, dancers and a sound‑artist/composer.

Mark Zed – Crystal Brook                                                                                                                                       $1,800
Precious Finds

Artist Mark Zed will oversee the production of artworks created by Crystal Brook community members using a traditional sun printing technique depicting found objects, which will then be curated for an exhibition as part of the SALA (South Australians Living Arts) Festival.

Dave Laslett – Flinders Ranges                                                                                                                             $12,770
Into Other Worlds

Artist Dave Laslett will create ‘Into Other Worlds’, a 16-month photographic exploration of the landscapes of the Far Northern Flinders Ranges.

Kirsten Johnston – MOUNT GAMBIER                                                                                                                    $11,750
Step Into Abstraction – Residency

Visual artist Kirsten Johnston will undertake a month-long residency at Post Office Projects in Port Adelaide, mentored by regional South Australian abstract artist Margaret Worth.