“The independent panel was impressed by the high number of quality applications this round, making it very competitive and many deserving projects were unable to be funded this time.”
- One project which highlights the talents of Australian First Nations peoples – enabling exposure for emerging and established indigenous artists.
- Two projects that facilitate community cohesion – one community building and healing project and one inter-cultural exchange resulting in a performance.
- Three projects which focus on professional development and skills building – including one visual and performing workshop for youth, one community-focused arts capacity building enterprise, and one writers festival.
NQ Young Artists Camp
CQ Shopfront is an 18-month developmental program to build the entrepreneurial capacity of Central Queensland artists and makers, creating commercially viable work and sustainable businesses. Funding is for a series of Artisan in Residence projects across 7 local government areas of Central Queensland, offering mentoring and skills development to regional artists and makers, delivered in partnership with Artisan, Central Queensland Regional Arts Services Network, local key organisations and local government. Artisans will be encouraged to develop a sustainable business model and test their products whilst building a support network and important industry contacts.
A creative development of I is Maggie, a script with themes of migrant exploitation, will take place in Cairns, 13-17 January 2020. The project brings together Bamaga-based emerging playwrights, Dennis MacIntosh and Saengthien Klamkaew, cultural consultant Jaruwan Jansoi, and creatives including actors, director, designer and dramaturg. The project will be inclusive of culturally appropriate actors and director, and will create a respectful and safe cultural process for this intercultural script. The week culminates in a public reading at the Centre of Contemporary Art. The project outcome of a new draft script will be submitted for consideration at Queensland WinterPlayFest.
First Nations Artists on Gubbi Gubbi Land Celebrate
After the successful 2019 First Nations Exhibition, funded by a RAF quick response grant, the artists and the audience requested a larger scale exhibition. From 12 June – 21 July 2020 Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre will host another First Nations art exhibition throughout the whole gallery, offering a larger exhibition for emerging and established Indigenous artists residing on Gubbi-Gubbi land, culminating in a Gubbi-Gubbi celebration during NAIDOC week. Ambassadors Dr Jandamarra Cadd, and Uncle Paul Calcott are excited to take this project to the next level, providing mentoring for marginalised Indigenous people, including those living with disabilities and troubled youth.
