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Funding boost for regional NSW
19 new arts projects to go ahead in 2005
16 December 2005
The Federal Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, today announced
the latest round of successful grants to New South Wales under the Australian
Government's Regional Arts Fund (RAF).
More than $274,000 in funding has been allocated for 19 projects which will
provide access to the arts and cultural skills development for communities across
regional New South Wales.
'Regional and remote New South Wales has a robust arts community which will
benefit significantly from the funding allocated under RAF,' Senator Kemp said.
Some of the initiatives supported in this round of funding are:
- Circus Dust Brewarrina - An artistic and cultural exchange between
the young people from Brewarrina and artists from the Flying Fruit Fly Circus
in Albury.
- Rip Out Your Labels - Working with artists and performers with intellectual
disabilities, local Eastern Riverina artists, Dirt Bones Assembly, will devise
a theatrical piece examining the way in which people are labelled in society.
- Whichway Music Workshops - Expanding on the successful Whichway Indigenous
Artist Development Program, Music NSW will offer a range of workshops focussing
on skills development for regionally based Indigenous musicians and bands.
- Get Off The Dole Productions - A pilot arts skills development program,
providing apprenticeships for 15 young unemployed people. The program will develop
participants' experience in performing, promotion, stage production and community
arts work.
The Regional Arts Fund is an Australian Government initiative to support the
arts in regional and remote Australia. Regional Arts NSW manages the fund in New
South Wales.
The program provides assistance in art forms for projects that foster people's
participation in the artistic development of their community.
This year, Regional Arts NSW received 56 applications for funding under the
program, representing a total request of over $1,000,000 for proposals from all
but one region of the state.
'We were enormously pleased at the high quality of project ideas we received
this year,' said CEO Victoria Keighery.
'Each and every RAF project is unique and multi-layered, with enormous, far-reaching
benefits to individuals, organisations and communities alike. The applications
reveal a high level of creativity and resourcefulness and are a resounding acknowledgement
of the importance of the arts in addressing community needs in regional New South
Wales,' she said.
The full list of funded projects is as follows:
Partnerships
Gunnedah Circus School
Gunnedah Shire Council - $13,000
The Gunnedah Circus School will continue to develop a young performance
troupe, run circus skills training in schools and conduct circus skills workshops,
including workshops for children with special needs.
Go Photo
Albury Regional Art Gallery - $7,500
A four day photography festival providing professional development opportunities
(lectures, discussions and practical workshops) for established and emerging artists
and arts workers.
Circus Dust Brewarrina
The Flying Fruit Fly Circus - $20,000
An artistic and cultural exchange is being set up between the young people in
Brewarrina and young artists from the Flying Fruit Fly Circus in Albury. The project
builds on previous circus workshops and aims to develop a sustainable, community
managed troupe.
New Initiatives
Prudence Mapstone Workshop
Gilgandra Alive! - $1,710
This project consists of two free-form knit and crochet workshops with renowned
fibre artist Prudence Mapstone. The project also includes activities prior to
the workshops, including skills development at the Retirement Village and an exhibition
by the artist. Gilgandra Alive! also involves a partnership with the Cooee Heritage
Centre and assists skills development in the sewing and craft business branch
of the Uambi CDEP Aboriginal Corporation.
Biting Dog Theatre Festival
Hot House Theatre - $22,000
An annual participatory theatre festival for people aged 12-25 in the wider
Albury/Wodonga region. A range of workshops in areas of performance (voice, character
development, text work, improvisation) and technical theatre skills (lighting,
stage, sound design) will be offered to approximately 30 young people as short
term traineeships. The Festival will also involve a poster design competition
with the winning entry will becoming the marketing image for the Festival.
Youth Arts Roadshow
Arts Northern Rivers - $11,118
Youth Arts Roadshow is a series of travelling art based, skills development
workshops for young people including dance, visual arts, music and mentorship
opportunities. The project targets smaller marginalised communities with limited
access to services and infrastructure.
Rainbow Songs
Lismore Arts Council - $19,000
A multi-arts project exploring the rainbow as a metaphor for diversity and
tolerance. Participants will work with specialist artists and facilitators to
develop artworks and performances in response to the colours of the rainbow, and
compose music for the finale of the Lismore Lantern Parade.
Balranald Frog Sculpture
Balranald Shire Council - $8,810
A series of five introductory workshops using a variety of media (including
the locally milled red gum timber) for local artists and craftspeople based on
the title of "Frog Sculptures: Artefacts and Souvenirs". The frog theme
was adopted because a particular threatened species of frog is found in large
numbers in this area.
Rip Out Your Labels
Dirt Bones Assembly/Kurrajong Waratach - $18,940
Working with artists and performers with intellectual disabilities, local
professional artists will devise a cross platform theatrical piece examining the
way in which people are labelled in society.
Development of the Bago Magic Performance Group
Wauchope Community Arts Council - $17,000
Weekly workshops in drama, music and visual arts during school terms. Workshops
will assist participants develop skills in all aspects of producing a final performance.
Participation by disability groups will be strongly encouraged.
Whichway Music Workshops
Music Association of NSW (Music NSW) $18,730
Expanding on the sucessful Whichway Indigenous Artist Development Program,
this project will offer a range of workshops focussing on skills development for
regionally based Indigenous musicians and bands. The program will be delivered
in collaboration with local government, Indigenous, and arts organisations to
six regional locations across NSW.
Residencies & Mentorships
Get off the Dole Productions
Hastings Council - $20,000
A pilot arts skills development program, providing apprenticeships for 15
young unemployed people. The program will develop participants' experience in
performing, promotion, stage production and community arts work.
STRETCH with FLING Residency
South East Arts Region (SEAR) - $19,840
An artists' residency program to develop the skills, capacity and profile
of FLING Physical Theatre. Leading artists from a range of art forms will be invited
to work with the company to develop a new work and conduct community workshops,
classes and informal performances.
Enchanted River Festival Performance Director Residency
- Neil Cameron
Murray Arts - $10,450
World renowned Festival Director, Neil Cameron, will conduct a series of community
art management and creative workshops with the Enchanted River Festival Director,
management team and creative team. The program will include strategic planning,
business planning, community analysis and CCD forums.
Men's Media
Men's Resource Centre - $5,800
Young and mature aged men from the North Coast region will produce their own
documentary/drama video about men in the community, under the mentorship of Grant
McGillford. Activities will also include master classes and workshops. The doco
will be shown on local TV and cinema networks and marketed to national TV.
Artistic Director Professional Mentorship
Riverina Theatre Company - $9,415
With the aim of creating a sustainable future for Outback Theatre, this project
seeks to create a partnership and model of mentorship for professional artistic
isolation in South West NSW. Outback Theatre's new Artistic Director will undertake
a formal mentorship with the Artistic Director of the Riverina Theatre Company
Rhythm Immersion (In Deeper)
Young Drums Percussion Orchestra Inc - $15,750
A two week residency with Steve Langton, experimental instrument designer and
builder. Workshops will be open to children, youth and the general public, and
will involve making and playing instruments using recycled materials
Writing the Waves Radio
Goori Broadcasters of Radio Nambucca Inc - $12,250
A series of ongoing writing workshops with primary and high schools students
which will include writing narratives, adapting them as radio drama scripts, recording
& broadcasting on a local radio station and posting an audio-on-demand website.
Participants will be mentored in all aspects and genres of writing with a focus
on vocational outcomes and use of web-based technologies to overcome regional
isolation.
Central West Theatre Residencies for Young People
Arts OutWest - $22,930
This project will host a series of performing artists-in-residence workshops
over a period of six months in three Central West NSW locations. Two artists from
Circus Monoxide and two artists from the Australian Theatre for Youth People will
be engaged to work with local youth organisations and with Theatre Media students
from Charles Sturt University and other local theatre groups.
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Regional Arts NSW also receives funding under the Regional Arts Fund for its
Communications and Promotions program for the regional arts and community cultural
development sector in NSW. The program includes this website, a quarterly magazine
and a free monthly e-Bulletin.
For more information contact Rachael Vincent, Communications
& Promotions Officer Tel 02 9247 8577 ext 5 Email rachael@regionalartsnsw.com.au.
For more information about the Regional Arts Fund aims and objectives
click here.
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