The Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund will provide $163,934 to support 12 new projects delivered by over 40 artists and arts workers across regional and remote South Australia.
The latest grant round saw a range of project types nominated, from community capacity building to professional development opportunities for artists. Seven projects in the August 2018 round were successful first time applicants to the Regional Arts Fund. Digital Media projects featured heavily and skills development opportunities for young people will be explored through three innovative and exciting theatre based projects.
“We are delighted with the applications we received in this second round of funding for 2018 and are excited to see what the successful applicants will produce through their funded projects. These grants support sustainable cultural development in regional and remote communities to the benefit of the whole region. I’d encourage anyone interested in applying for future funding rounds to chat with their local Arts and Cultural Facilitator for advice,” said Country Arts SA’s Chief Executive Officer, Steve Saffell.
Successful initiatives in the latest round of funding include:
Adelaide Hills Council – LOBETHAL
Weaving Stories
Cad Factory artist Vic McEwan will gather stories of former workers from the Onkaparinga Woollen Mill in Lobethal to share with the wider community through large scale projections onto the historic Mill buildings as part of the 150 year celebrations of the Mill’s opening. Two local artists will work alongside Vic McEwan learning digital media skills and participating in his community engagement process.
Cait Wait – BELTANA
A Few Life Stories
Artist Cait Wait will travel outside her remote regional town of Beltana to research, listen and prepare working drawings of her chosen subjects that will result in a series of narrative portraits to be exhibited at M16 Artspace, Canberra in 2019.
The Australian Government supports regional artists, arts workers and organisations to develop and expand their artistic practice through the Regional Arts Fund.
Funding targets activities that will have long term cultural, economic and social benefits for individuals and communities. Regional Arts Funding 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 its member organisations which include Country Arts SA. The next funding round closes on 15 March 2019 for projects that commence after 1 July 2019. Information about the Regional Arts Fund please visit www.countryarts.org.au
A full list of funded projects is below.
Jam’eh Project
World Fusion musician Greta Kelly will partner with local Naracoorte musician Sam Gulzari to deliver the Jam’eh Project to Bordertown’s Afghan and broader communities. A workshop program of traditional Afghan music and performance will celebrate the Hazara culture, creating a social and cultural experience designed to encourage important, ongoing dialogue in the community.
Hungry like a Wolf
Artist Gina Raisin will undertake a mentorship with contemporary visual artist James Dodd and video artist Heath Franco. This will result in a residency at ACE Open Residency in Adelaide, ending a year-long developmental phase in preparation for an exhibition in 2020.
Sherlock Artful Playground
Investigative play for all ages, with a focus on men’s mental health, is the aim of this inspired project set in the Mallee settlement of Sherlock. Maker and designer Mark Thomson and local engineer and sculptor Rob Hughes will engage local men to create a musical sculptural playground using repurposed farm equipment.
Message Sticks Project – 2 to 4
Aboriginal Playwright Glen Shea, as artist in residence, will facilitate and deliver a series of workshops with key stakeholders of the Mount Gambier Nunga community to realise a new community theatre piece, based on the theme of suicide prevention that will celebrate life. The real goal is prevention.
Allowed to Be
Young people from D’faces of Youth Arts in Whyalla and the Shock ‘n’ Awe youth drama ensemble in Port Augusta will combine forces to create a verbatim theatre work that explores the pressures they face, under the expert guidance of theatre practitioner Dr Sarah Peters.
Port Augusta Footprints
Change Media will facilitate media training and high-end screen production workshops to participants from the Umeewarra Aboriginal Media Association. The aim of this initiative is to develop interest in a centralised hub of Aboriginal Screen practitioners who are skilled in film making and enable them to capture the unique stories of the regional and remote areas of South Australia.
Listen Up Riverland!
Listen up Riverland! will equip regional youth with the technical and creative skills required to design, develop, pitch and produce their own podcast.
Mentorship with Kay Lawrence
Internationally renowned artist Professor Kay Lawrence will mentor textile artist Joann Fife to produce a body of experimental and conceptual works with a focus on hand made textiles that are inspired by a combination of drawing and stitching and are a response to “Woman’s Work”.
Weaving Stories
Cad Factory artist Vic McEwan will engage in a series of conversations with former workers of the Onkaparinga Woollen Mill in Lobethal. The interviews will be combined with site footage and installed onto the walls of the Mill.
Vic will also work with local artists exploring the roles and issues of creating art projects that connect with communities and place.
The Walls have Ears
The Walls have Ears is a hybrid performance project that engages high quality South Australian artists and a range of community groups in the Nairne district, as contributors, makers and performers. Promenade performance work will intersect with a sound, projection and an augmented reality trail. The stories shared through the work will encompass the history of the location; from the time of the Peramangk people, through European colonisation to the present day Lobethal community.
West Coast Youth: Digital Connections
Illustrator and youth facilitator Sam Wannan will deliver digital animation and illustration workshops to young people from Streaky Bay and Elliston during SA Youth Week 2019.
A Few Life Stories
Artist Cait Wait will travel outside her remote regional town of Beltana to research, listen and prepare working drawings of her chosen subjects that will result in a series of narrative portraits to be exhibited at M16 Artspace, Canberra in 2019.
Country Arts SA pays respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognises their continuing connection and spiritual relationship to these lands, waters and skies. We are committed to listening and helping care for Country, and to safeguard, share and celebrate First Nations’ living cultures.