RAF recipients announced

oil on canvas 750mm x 1000mm [detail of]  – artist Kerrie Stratford 

Arts Minister, Simon Crean, has announced $123,721 from the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund 2012 September Round has been awarded to 18 community arts projects across regional South Australia.

Country Arts SA Chief Executive Officer, Mr Steve Saffell said “The projects selected in the
September funding round showcase the wealth of artistic talent residing across regional South Australia. The support provided through the Regional Arts Fund enables South Australian artists from regional and remote communities to turn their artistic concepts into reality, which in turn has a significant flow on effect to communities across the state” he added.

Successful initiatives in the new round of funding include:

• Art Workshops for Young Carers in SA ‐ In collaboration with Carclew Youth Arts, Riverland Youth Theatre and D’faces of Youth Arts, Carers SA will facilitate workshops in animation, aerosol art, puppetry and more for up to 110 young carers in five regional areas across South Australia during the July 2013 school holidays.

• Kicking it from the Kerb ‐ a project ‘taking the dance to the boys not the boys to the dance’ specifically designed to re‐engage, encourage, and empower young boys from 6 years and over from Streaky Bay and the surrounding areas.

• Stories of Resilience ‐ Refugee and Aboriginal communities in Port Augusta share their stories of hardship and injustice, with the aim to create artistic resources to be used for human rights education.

The Regional Arts Fund is an Australian Government program that supports sustainable cultural development in regional and remote communities in Australia. The funding is targeted at activities that will have long term cultural, economic and social benefits for individuals and communities 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 the opportunity to participate in, and access cultural activities. The Fund has an emphasis on building capacity in disadvantaged, very remote and Indigenous communities. Country Arts SA manages the Regional Arts Fund in South Australia on behalf of the Australian Government. Assistance is available across all artforms for
projects that encourage community participation in regional arts development.