The Minister for the Arts, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC has announced that funding for seven projects totalling $44,526 will go to regional and rural Tasmanian communities from the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund – delivered in Tasmania by Tasmanian Regional Arts.
President of Tasmanian Regional Arts, Sue Baker is impressed with the quality and diversity of the projects proposed and funded through the program, stating that “It is inspiring that Tasmania’s artists are so active and so highly creative. In this round, the fund has supported individual artists seeking to develop projects that highlight contemporary Tasmanian arts practices, drawing on our culture and heritage to develop new narratives and projects that open the doors to communities less visible to mainstream society ”.
As all of Tasmania is considered regional under the Regional Arts Fund program guidelines, a number of southern based applicants were successful in this round. The Regional Arts Fund continues to reach out to regional locations, with projects funded in Queenstown, the West Tamar and Launceston.
Importantly, approximately 50% of all applicants to the program are new to the Regional Arts Fund, demonstrating that the arts community is alive and growing in Tasmania.
Specific projects funded in this round include:
• Aboriginal artist Julie Gough receiving funds to develop The Effect, an exhibition based on colonial impacts on indigenous cultures but developed through new media technologies;
• Queenstown’s unique heritage will be presented through the commissioning of new story telling film documentaries to be developed by Roar Film as part of the Big Stories: Small Towns project; and
• Hobart Based metal band Infernal Outcry, whose membership comprises UTAS Conservatorium of Music Students/graduates, will be commissioned to develop new music for performance and recording.
“What is pleasing is that the projects funded in this round demonstrate interesting collaborations, often forming new partnerships and new outlets for the work. While the number of grants awarded in this round is smaller than last year, their quality and diversity shone through” added Ms Baker.
The Regional Arts Fund is an Australian Government program that supports sustainable cultural development in communities across regional and remote 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 Regional Arts Fund has an emphasis on youth, disadvantaged, remote and Indigenous communities.
Major Grants
Stompin $10,000
6000 to 1 – LAUNCESTON
Stompin will investigate the consequences of the choices we make and the chance events that make us. The development of a new performance work seeks to build the creative capital of all participants involved in the process with a particular focus on mental health.
Roar Film Pty Ltd $10,000
Big Stories, Small Towns: Queenstown – QUEENSTOWN
As part of the Big Stories, Small Towns project in Queenstown and the West Coast with acclaimed Tasmanian filmmakers Roar Films, a series of digital stories will be created with Queenstown community members. The stories will reflect on shared history and experiences and explore the diversity of people and stories in the community. The project will culminate in an exhibition and screening event at the historic Paragon Cinema.
West Tamar Arts Group (WTAG)$6,026
SCULPTURE AS VISUAL LITERACY – WEST TAMAR
West Tamar Arts Group will introduce a large number of residents to the Chatterbox visual arts project. Artist Ross Byers will facilitate workshops to engage primary schools and connect with school communities to ensure their culture is central to the concept of the project.
Small Grants
Infernal Outcry$5,000
Infernal Outcry Debut Album – NEW TOWN
This project will develop Infernal Outcry’s professional career as a death metal band and provide each individual musician with experience in a professional studio setting. This project is the essential next step to develop the band’s musical career.
Lorraine Biggs $5,000
The Lighthouse Keepers Great Granddaughter Project, Arthurs Head and Rottnest Island – FREMANTLE
An artist will work on a nine week residency at the Fremantle Art Centre to produce an exhibition entitled The Lighthouse Keepers Great Granddaughter – Arthurs Head and Rottnest. An artist will research and create a series of large scale paintings and/or drawings based on the theme.
Julie Gough $5,000
The Effect – FITZROY
This project is a solo exhibition by Julie Gough to be held at Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi from 23 Oct – 16 Nov 2014. This will be the artist’s first solo exhibition in Melbourne since 2007. The visual art exhibition will investigate the work of history on the present, in particular the effect of colonial legacies on personal and national identity with a focus on Tasmanian history.
Fiona Stewart $3,500
THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE…. – RISDON DALE
Going into Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison as a theatre maker, Fiona Stewart will create a show about women ‘inside’, using the prisoners’ words in monologue, dialogue and song. Audiences will be given a rare glimpse into the life of women on the inside.
Tasmanian Regional Arts provides two funding rounds per year. Round two opens 1 July and closes August 15 for projects commencing after 1 January 2015.
President of Tasmanian Regional Arts, Sue Baker
