Regional Arts Fund Supports 15 Regional Arts Projects Across South Australia

The Australian government’s Regional Arts Fund will provide more than $146,047 to support 15 new projects by over 50 artists and arts workers across regional South Australia.

The latest grant round saw 46% of successful applicants to the Regional Arts Fund nominate “community capacity building” as the primary outcome of their project. Five innovative new projects will explore the relationship between art, science and the environment. The funding round also attracted ten first-time applicants.

Country Arts SA, CEO Steve Saffell said: “This is an impressive range of projects that reflect the depth and diversity of artistic practice throughout regional South Australia. It is apparent that applicants are consulting with their local Arts and Cultural Facilitator as this round was very competitive due to the high standard of applications. I wish these candidates well in delivering their projects.”

Successful initiatives in the latest round of funding include:

The Pinnaroo Project – Stage 1 – The Mallee Arts Group, Pinnaroo
A major Research and Creative Health Initiative led by consultants Anne Dunn and Maz McGann that will see the Pinnaroo community immersed in arts activity for the benefit of health and wellbeing. Stage 1 brings together stakeholders from many sectors to identify a collective vision and design a project development plan that will inform two years of activity.

Art Meets Science: Geolocation Journeys On! Residency – District Council of Streaky Bay
A collaboration of artists, scientists, educators and Aboriginal artists will invoke community activism through community forums, hands-on workshops and field experience covering Southern Ocean ecology, design, visual art, engineering and data analysis. The participants will learn about marine predators and share in an arts and science dialogue to generate new, exciting and innovative approaches that explores the local marine environment and the many challenges it faces.

Inaugural International Limestone Coast Video Art Festival – Riddoch Art Gallery, Mount Gambier
Video artists from South Australia will join International video artists to participate in an exploratory space dedicated to experimentation in the growing field of new media art. The stimulative program includes a conference, exhibition, screenings, workshops and VJ performances.

The Australian Government supports regional artists, arts workers and organisations to develop and expand 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 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.

A full list of funded projects is listed below.

Whyalla City Council – WHYALLA – $7,300
Front and Centre
In consultation with the disability sector, artist Karen Carr will work with the community to create a functional public art work that is assessable and inclusive of people with mobility issues. The artwork will be integrated into the redevelopment of the Whyalla Foreshore Jetty.

Beverley Willson – PENNESHAW – $5,203
Mentorship with Jude Aquilina
Award winning South Australian Author Jude Aquilina will mentor emerging writer Beverley Willson in writing a faction novel based on early Kangaroo Island characters.

Mimili Music Studio – MIMILI COMMUNITY APY LANDS – $14,105
Our Music: Our Studio
Our Music: Our Studio is a skills development initiative led by musician Tom Colwell, for musicians living in the remote community of Mimili. The group will undertake training in recording techniques and studio equipment care and maintenance. The workshops will culminate in recording the music of two local bands.

Island to Outback Artist Camp – Kangaroo Island – $13,800
Island to Outback Artists Camp
Over 10 days, twelve visual artists from Kangaroo Island will travel to the spectacular desert landscape of Coward Springs for an Artist’s Camp. It is an opportunity for sharing, collaborating and extending skills through working together, mentoring and artists-led workshops. Further skills exchange opportunities will be provided through collaboration with the local Marree community.

Burra Regional Art Gallery – BURRA – $8,180
The Burra Archive
The Burra Archive is a community engagement and artist in residence project with artist Luke Thurgate. Community members will be invited to bring to the gallery small, non-precious items of personal significance as subject matter to inform Thurgate’ s live, large scale drawings on the walls of the gallery. As Artist in Residence he will also run a masterclass for local artists and workshops/talks for local youth.

Mallee Arts Group – PINNAROO – $9,776
The Pinnaroo Project – Stage 1
The Pinnaroo Project is a major Research and Creative Health Initiative, led by consultants Anne Dunn and Maz McGann that will see the Pinnaroo community immersed in arts activity for the benefit of health and wellbeing. Stage 1 brings together stakeholders from many sectors to identify a collective vision and design a project development plan that will inform two years of activity.

District Council of Streaky Bay – STREAKY BAY – $15,000
Art Meets Science: Geolocation Journeys On! Residency
A collaboration of artists, scientists, educators and Aboriginal artists will invoke community activism through community forums, hands-on workshops and field experience covering Southern Ocean ecology, design, visual art, engineering and data analysis. The participants will learn about marine predators and share in an arts and science dialogue to generate new, exciting and innovative approaches that explores the local marine environment and the many challenges it faces.

The Renmark Rose Festival – RENMARK – $14,590
Rose Festival Digital Art Program
Photographer Sam Oster will coordinate an exciting arts opportunity for the community of Renmark through a series of three innovative photographic projects. Outcomes will be presented during the annual Renmark Rose Festival.

Riddoch Art Gallery – MOUNT GAMBIER – $18,000
Inaugural International Limestone Coast Video Art Festival
Video artists from South Australia will join National and International video artists to participate in a video art festival. The Festival will create an exploratory space dedicated to experimentation in the growing field of new media art. The stimulative program includes exhibitions, screenings, conference, workshops and VJ performances.

Streaky Bay Tourist Promotions Inc. – STREAKY BAY – $8,660
TRASHTALK Envirowall project
Contemporary artists Tristan Kerr and Henry Jock Walker will lead the community of Streaky Bay through an exploration of art and its relationship with the social and cultural aspects of the environment. Painted typography and an upcycled surfboard colour explosion will form an abstracted enviro-wall that speaks of environmental issues.

Port Pirie Regional Council – PORT PIRIE – $16,220
Nukunu in The BIG Picture
Mural artist Andrew J Bourke will work with Nukunu Traditional Owners and local artists to develop a design concept for a large scale mural as part of Port Pirie’s inaugural The BIG Picture Fest. Bourke will also deliver workshops to local Aboriginal artists to explore techniques and share skills in painting large scale murals.

Adelaide Plains Poets Inc – MALLALA / TWO WELLS – $647
Adelaide Plains Festival of Words
The Adelaide Plains Festival of Words will host a series of workshops that will highlight the power of the written and spoken word and the importance of words in defining our culture.

Parent Governing Council – MOONTA – $4,926
Little People, Big Art
Community members, staff and children assisted by artist Karen George will design and create a large scale artwork that will enhance the outdoor play space of the Moonta Kindergarten.

Suzanne Macpherson – BERRI – $4,640
Magical 5rMural Mentorship
Emerging artist Suzanne MacPherson from the Riverland will be mentored by experienced mural artist Sarah Boese in exploring aerosol techniques for large scale murals.

Jesse Budel –RENMARK – $5,000
Riverland Biosphere Reserve Lab
Facilitator and interdisciplinary artist Jess Budel will be in residence at Calperum Station as part of the Biosphere Soundscape Lab: a large scale interdisciplinary research project underpinned by the creative possibilities of acoustic ecology, and rapidly emerging fields of biology exploring environmental patterns and changes through sound. Budel will produce two works in response to his time at Calperum Station.

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 August 2018 for projects that commence after 1 January 2019.