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More arts funding for regional and remote New South Wales

Wednesday 22 June 2005

Regional Arts NSW today announced an additional $84,080 in grants from the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund for 2004-2005 to support five new community arts initiatives in regional and remote New South Wales.

The additional funds are the result of the announcement by the Federal Government last September of an increase in the Regional Arts Fund to address priority areas of unmet need for arts development support - in remote, isolated and Indigenous communities of New South Wales and for communities which have not previously benefited from a Regional Arts Fund grant.

The announcement brings to 24 the total number projects funded by the Regional Arts Fund in New South Wales for 2004-2005, and the total commitment to over $358,000 for community-based cultural development in regional and remote New South Wales.

The five new projects were selected from amongst a number of high quality, but unfunded, applications for the 2004-2005 Regional Arts Fund round and by re-visiting projects funded under the program between 2001 and 2004.

"When you see the ground breaking projects that the Regional Arts Fund supports in rural, remote and isolated New South Wales, at least we can say the creative drought has broken," said Victoria Keighery, CEO of Regional Arts NSW.

"Regional areas in New South Wales are developing some of the most innovative and exciting projects and programs we've seen for a long time and the people involved in them are demonstrating the incredible value of the arts in enriching community life."

The projects

The 5 new projects to be supported through the Regional Arts Fund for 2004-2005 are:

• "Women's View" - The Yoorana-Gunya Family Violence Healing Centre Aboriginal Corp, $10,000
  An extension of two community and peer education programs in Murrin Bridge demonstrating the relevance of arts and cultural expression in community education, healing and economic development - "Weaving the Net", teaching about the damage of violence in children's lives and "Yalmambiladhaany" ("The ones who teach others") providing basic information about puberty, pregnancy, relationships and parenting. The workshops involve a wide range of arts components including puppetry, drama, writing and quilting.

• The Outback Dance Residency" - Outback Arts, $11,280
  Building on a successful project in 2004 which saw two professional dancers from Sydney teaching in isolated schools in the Far West - Nyngan, Cobar, Bourke, Coonamble and Walgett, the new project will enable an extension of the residencies to reach smaller schools in Collarenebri, Goodooga, Byrock, Carinda, Quambone and Enngonia.

• "Writing the Waves" - Outback Arts, $12,800
  A follow up to a multi-media writing project which saw children's author and illustrator, Paul Stafford, in residence in 12 remote schools of the Far West - in Carinda, Quambone, Lightning Ridge, Collarenebri, Byrock, Enngonia, Weilmoringle, Cobar and Hermidale - then as online mentor for the students. Work was posted on to a website and radio interviews produced. The new project brings the short story and illustration workshops to Walgett, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Warren and Nyngan.

• "Stories of the Central West" - Arts OutWest, $10,000
  A pilot media campaign developed for and by young people to address issues of violent and anti-social behaviour in Bathurst, Condobolin, Forbes, Lachlan and Parkes. The project involves a workshop program developing writing and filmmaking skills then adapting these works to mainstream media with mentoring assistance from Prime TV, local print media, Arts OutWest and Charles Sturt University.

• "Teatro Exo" - Arts Upper Hunter, $40,000 over 2 years
  A two year residency for 3 artists in the eac local government area of the Upper Hunter region - Gloucester, Muswellbrook, Singleton and Upper Hunter - to assist communities to plan design and implement Public Art projects. The project addresses the priorities of Arts Upper Hunter's Strategic Cultural Plan, particularly its long term goal of increasing arts content in established community programs and events.

 

Most of these projects build on the momentum and credibility of a previous Regional Art Fund project which has already established networks and working relationships - especially important in smaller, more isolated communities and those with less developed cultural infrastructure.

Media Contact
Rachael Vincent, Communications & Promotions Tel 02 9247 8577 ext 5

The Regional Arts Fund is the Australian Government's regional arts program, which gives artists and communities throughout regional, rural and remote Australia better access to opportunities to practice and experience the arts.