Project Grants
The Project Grants stream supports applications which benefit the community, increase access and participation, and/or provide direct benefits to artists/arts workers.
Image Credit: Leeroy Todd
Date: 14 February – 15 April 2023
Location: Gympie, QLD
In early 2023, the Gympie Regional Council were the successful recipients of the Regional Arts Fund’s project grant. Together three Gympie artists collaborated to present 22.96 / receding, a multi-faceted exhibition which commemorated the one-year anniversary of the devastating Gympie floods. The collaborative exhibition was held at Gympie Regional Gallery and invited the community to engage with a narrative that is not defined by the worst that the river can do, but by what the river provides.
Through the Regional Arts Fund’s project grant funding, Miriam Innes, Joolie Gibbs and Leeroy Todd created thought-provoking and engaging artworks and programs which voiced the unspoken impacts of the natural disaster on the social, environmental and economic fabric of the Gympie region. During the exhibition, fifteen public programs were offered and welcomed over 2,000 visitors to engage with the artworks, artist talks, workshops, panel discussions and projection art.
The collaborative exhibition maintained a purposeful focus on the strength and importance of community. Through reflection, the sharing of stories, and celebrating the resilience and spirit of the people, the project called the community to lean into collective healing through creative recovery. With each artist’s unique connection to the Mary River, the artworks displayed at the exhibition spoke to the myriad of experiences and emotions felt by the community whilst ultimately bringing them together to lift their eyes above the 22.96 metres of water that swept through the region.
The success of this creative recovery was echoed by participants and audience members. The exhibition was described as very moving, poignant and a must-see experience that exceeded expectations. In the words of one participant, “this helped me move through emotions left by the floods – thank you!”
This case study meets the following RAF criteria to a high degree: “Encourage and support sustainable economic, social and cultural development in regional communities.”
Date: 8 March, 2019
Location: Cairns, QLD
In March, 2019 Cairns-based musical and cultural ensemble Women of AustraNesia performed Woven, an original performance capturing the essence of what is most powerful and enduring about the nature of woman. Six entwined stories of joy, sadness, hardship, resilience and hope weaved a timeless tapestry of what it is to be a woman, be they daughters, sisters, mothers, aunties, matriarchs or part of the powerful force that is the collective womanhood.
Through support from the Regional Arts Fund, Women of AustraNesia were able to bring the stories, language and music of cultural backgrounds from around the Pacific (Aboriginal, Torres Strait Island, and Melanesian and Polynesian heritage) to a contemporary audience. Keeping with this goal, the actresses and majority of the creative team were able to draw from their backgrounds from these four regions.
Both musically uplifting and visually powerful, the performance itself utilised woven artefacts, words and music, revealed in stages, to represent the empowerment of women. Celebrating and elevating the audience, the original performance of song and story aimed to create a new sense of appreciation for the women who have positively impacted their lives.
The performance garnered an extremely positive response from women, men, youth alike, with many expressing that the stories were relatable and universal, the music uplifting and the showcase of local talent was incredible. These elements combined led Woven to be a powerful and culturally significant performance that introduced now, contemporary audiences to theatre.
This case study meets the following RAF criteria to a high degree: “Develop audiences and broaden community engagement.”
Date: 28 – 29 September, 2018
Location: Toowoomba, QLD
In early 2019 LIT Festival illuminated the streets of the Toowoomba CBD in a two-night celebration of local stories through projections, sculptures and street theatre. Alongside the festival line-up of established multi-media artists, LIT festival Director Benjamin Tupas endeavoured to also engage local emerging theatre artists through an immersive week-long professional development program, ‘LIT Futures.’
Thanks to project funding from the Regional Arts Fund, Tupas was able to enlist the expertise of street theatre artist Kristian Santic to conduct the program. The outcome was an interactive performance titled ‘Ghosts of the Range’ that told stories of Toowoomba’s past present and imagined future while guiding patrons through the festival’s activated public spaces.
The performance development program allowed emerging theatre artists to explore how street performance can make theatre more accessible to a wider audience and act as a vehicle for sharing untold local stories. The contribution from the Regional Arts Fund in order to contract Kristian Santic was instrumental in enabling wider community connections within the program. Santic’s personal and professional connections within the local Toowoomba arts community and broader Australian theatre scene enabled Toowoomba to secure ties with other industry members.
RAF funding also contributed to the wider community project of LIT Festival, bringing strong economic benefit to the community through increased tourism and use of night-time hospitality venues.
The program will have continued effects for Toowoomba-based Story Artist Run Collective Inc, the company in charge of LIT Festival, and broader regional arts projects, including:
- developing best practice frameworks for street performance in a regional context
- developing models of feedback to build upon the success of the project
- Establishing a model for how a festival can foster community inclusion
- Demonstrating frameworks for public safety and wellbeing during a night-time outdoor performance
- Providing young regional actors with professional development to assist the longevity of their career
- Strengthening performing arts networks in Toowoomba
This case study meets the following RAF criteria to a high degree: “Encourage and support sustainable economic, social and cultural development in regional communities.”
Quick Response Grants
Quick Response Grants are intended to assist regional artists, arts organisations and communities to take up professional or skills development or small project opportunities. Applicants can apply for a Quick Response Grant if their small arts or cultural project cannot be funded by any other means because of its nature or timing.
Date: August – October 2023
Location: Edge Hill, QLD, 4870
In July 2023, Jay Wymarra was a successful applicant of the Quick Response Grants which allowed him to develop and refine his practice, taking it to national level. Wymarra is a part of The 5Five Presents, an arts incubator in Cairns, nurturing raw untapped talent in Queensland’s Far North Region.
In the creative and media asset development, AmaJayus was brought to life as a new cabaret-style performance, comedy and media one-man-show. The show builds on Wymarra’s comedic and performance skills and experience, and platforms a highly professional new show for touring to major festivals.
Through the success of the funded activity, AmaJayus will feature in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) with 12 confirmed shows across the 8th to the 21st of April 2024. Alongside this, a sneak preview of the show was featured as a part of The 5Five Presents performance event ‘Mixed Grill’ held at Northsite Contemporary Arts.
In a media release about AmaJayus, Jay Wymarra stated, “RAF funding was a modest yet critical mechanism to realise National opportunities, in a very competitive performing arts market, and allow me to aim high for the life of the work. RAF funding has kicked our butts into action, and we’ve now got 12 shows in the Southern hemisphere’s greatest comedy festival.”
See AmaJayus at the MICF! Get your TICKETS HERE
This case study meets the following criteria to a high degree: “increase employment and professional development opportunities for, and raise the profile of, regional and remote artists.”
Date: October – November 2023
Location: Cooroy Mountain, QLD
Ampersand is a young and energetic funk fusion band based on the Sunshine Coast. Across five days, the band recorded five original songs in preparation for the upcoming release of their debut EP. Thanks to the Regional Arts Fund’s Quick Response Grant, Ampersand was able to complete these recordings with local professionals at Yama Nui Studios.
Throughout their project, the six band members undertook significant professional development encompassing the administrative, technical, and musical aspects of recording an EP. Starting from the initial envisioning and planning, progressing through to the recording, mixing, mastering of the tracks, and finishing with preparation of the release, Ampersand successfully concluded their project. Through the RAF funding, Ampersand is now equipped with a versatile set of skills which will prove invaluable to their future as musicians.
In reflection of their project, band members Jed Green (Bass) and Isi Semmler (Vocals) said; “Being given the opportunity to record in a highly professional environment has opened so many doors for Ampersand. Having new music to release marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for us as musicians.”
With a bright future in the music industry ahead of them, Ampersand’s funding support from the Regional Arts Fund has provided the necessary resources and opportunities to further establish their presence, reach new audiences, and elevate their profiles as regional Queensland artists.
The Quick Response Grant Ampersand received played a crucial role in securing a RADF Grant from their local regional council which will enable the band to create a music video for one of their recorded singles and hold a launch event for the EP.
Ampersand’s first single ‘Originality’ is out now! To read more about Ampersand and stream their music, head to https://www.ampersandbandnoosa.com/.
This case study meets the following criteria to a high degree: “increase employment and professional development opportunities for, and raise the profile of, regional and remote artists.”
Image credit: Tropix Photography
Date: May – August 2023
Location: Airlie Beach, Proserpine and Cannonvale, QLD
With funding from the Regional Arts Fund’s Quick Response Grants, the Great Barrier Reef Festival was able to engage with the local community to create and participate in reef-themed lantern-making workshops with local artist Lalune Croker. The workshops were held across 3 locations in the Whitsundays Region in preparation for the Great Barrier Reef Festival’s ‘Immerse’ Installation.
To ensure that all members of the community had the opportunity to be involved, two different styles of community workshops were delivered. Artist-led hand-building workshops which invited participants to explore their creativity through technique, and a drop-in-style lantern decorating workshops for people of all ages and abilities. The lanterns created and decorated during the workshops were then proudly paraded as a part of the ‘Immerse’ Installation which brought to life the Airlie Beach Foreshore, Lagoon, and Main Street.
Workshop participants included adults and children alike, with many noting the sense of community created by the experience. Due to the large number of lanterns created at the workshops, many tourists and visitors during the festival were able to participate in the Lantern Parade.
In reflection of her involvement in the project, local lantern artist Lalune Croker spoke of the sense of community pride and engagement of the project. “I love seeing how proud everyone is of their individual pieces as well as the Parade and the end product installation,” she said. “Community Art is very rewarding for me personally and I love the ongoing connections we form and the beauty we can achieve as a team and a community.” Croker continued, “and I believe the impact of this is more meaningful than ever in this modern world.”
This case study meets the following criteria to a high degree: “develop audiences and broaden community engagement with the arts.”
Date: 14 – 18 September, 2018
Location: Sydney, NSW
In a project coordinated by Anna Grigson of Sabbia Gallery in Sydney, the Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre (located in Cardwell, QLD) was able to display in excess of 50 ceramic bagu in a prime location at the entrance to the Sydney Contemporary Art Fair 2018. With assistance from the Regional Arts Fund, Girrigun Aboriginal Art Centre were able to transport artists Nephi Denham, Philip Denham, Melanie Muriata and Centre Manager Dr Valerie Keenan to the renowned event.
The word ‘bagu’ means firesticks, and relates to the traditional fire making implements of the Girringun rainforest Aboriginal people. The motifs on the clay represent patterns, stories and human figures from Girrigun Country. Grouped in two huddles, this was one of the first large-scale works on display as you moved further into the fair.
The ‘bagu’ display at the Sydney Contemporary Art Fair was a great success as the prime location of the installation allowed the artists to receive full attention from delegates and attendees.
Neither Melanie Muriata nor Philip Denham had been to an event of this kind before and were blown away by the exposure, networking and sales opportunities afforded to them. Gaining exposure to attendees who had paid to enter the venue provided the artists with the opportunity to engage with potential collaborators, clients and audiences who were sincere in their interest with contemporary art.
Exhibiting at the Sydney Contemporary Art Fair was also a fantastic opportunity for the art centre and artists, with over 50 percent of the works sold while on display and a large number being sold since. The artists were also able to strengthen their own artistic practice while reflecting on the work of their peers. The trip also allowed for the team to visit the McLeay Museum (University of Sydney) and the Australian Museum to meet with respective curators to discuss future initiatives.
This case study meets the following RAF criteria to a high degree: “Professional Development opportunity.”
Date: 2 March, 2019
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Nina Dawson, the regional Queensland designer behind eco-fashion brand Birdtribe Wearable Art was invited to showcase her designs inspired by the North Queensland rainforest at major Australian fashion event Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival (VAMFF).
Thanks to successful grant funding from the Regional Arts Fund, Nina was able to fly her 6-piece clothing range for an eco-fashion runway called Identity that took the stage on the 2nd of March, 2019.
“The project paves the way for a new kind of ethics in Fashion. The Fashion Industry has been exposed in the last few years for its huge pollution impact and inhumane and exploitative working conditions, so this event aimed to address these issues by showcasing Australian Fashion Designers who have ethical, humane and environmental principles,” said Nina.
“For the ethical fashion event Identity to be featured as part of VAMFF shows that we are becoming more conscious of our clothing choices and that good fashion can come from good principles.”
Nina says that the experience reinvigorated her artmaking practice and gave her a renewed sense of direction within the fashion industry.
“I learnt that my kind of EcoFashion is now becoming popular and the Ethical Fashion industry is growing. This is great news for me and has given me extra inspiration and initiative to continue on my EcoFashion and Wearable Art path.
“I also got to see the process of running such an event which has also inspired me to create a similar EcoFashion/Ethical Fashion Event in my community.”
As a result of this event, Nina was inspired to create a new ethical fashion range utilising her new connections for sourcing ethical fabric and materials. The project also enabled the artist to grow her personal brand within the industry, touting greater connections within the ethical fashion industry both personally and online.
This case study meets the following RAF criteria to a high degree: “raising artist profile.”
Date: July – November, 2018
Location: Mt Isa, QLD
Over a six-week period 8 young people from Mount Isa were involved in a series of writing, acting and film-making workshops exploring the topic of healthy relationships with the organisation Young people Ahead Youth and Community Centre (YPA).
The program called ‘Can you Relate?’ received funding support from the Regional Arts Fund in order to teach young people a range of media skills to create their own short films, exploring how healthy relationships impact and decrease domestic violence in their community.
Over the duration of the program, which primarily ran in the September School holidays in 2018, participants created four short films. One film told a personal story of the impacts of Domestic and Family Violence. The team also collaborated song on a about Domestic Violence to accompany the film content.
The outcomes of the project were showcased at a private screening night and then further during Domestic Violence Prevention Month in May, with the next showing happening at the Mount Isa Short Film Festival in 2019.
The program provided a platform for youth to have open discussions around the topic of Domestic Violence, an issue which impacts on many young people and their families, within a fun, supportive and creative space.
The overall program was successful in empowering youth to spread social messages through digital media skill, while also educating the community on the power of healthy relationships. The program also enabled youth to gain an insight into the film and television industry, with many participants stating new confidence in their acting and producing skills.
Specifically, the participants showed an interested in visual techniques which focused ‘showing’ not ‘telling’ which allowed the finished films to be evocative with little dialogue and more visual storytelling.
The program has opened up further opportunities for the participants including being involved in YPA’s next film project called ‘Power on Up’ which is looking at physical activity for youths. The project group would also like to use their films in schools, with the Mount Isa Domestic Violence services and youth groups as an education tool. The group will also use the power of social media to share these locally made stories and to create further opportunities for youth who would like to get into the screen industry as actors.
This case study meets the following RAF criteria to a high degree: “encourage and support sustainable economic, social and cultural development in regional communities.”
Date: 1 – 26 April, 2019
Location: Mossman, QLD
Concerned with rates of unemployment in her local area, Mossman-based puppeteer Naomi McGravie set out to equip members of the community experiencing mental health and substance abuse with skills to create engaging short films using puppets.
Over ten half-days, the ‘No Worries Project’ involved educating participants in a high standard of artistic expertise with skills such as drawing, painting, set design, storytelling, story boarding, puppet making, black light puppetry, filming on an iPad and video editing using iMovie software.
‘No Worries’ provided a fun, safe, non-judgemental space for individual’s artistic expression and aimed to inspire others to become self-employed through technical creative.
The program was a success with 10 participants designing backdrops, learning puppet manipulation and filming various puppet skits.
The program facilitator said that collaborating with a diverse audience also allowed for expansion upon ideas of her own craft and taking innovative approaches to film elements such as backdrops, character development and sound effects.
This case study meets the following RAF criteria to a high degree: “develop audiences and broaden community engagement.”
The Regional Arts Fund (RAF) is an Australian Government program designed to benefit regional and remote arts practitioners, arts workers, audiences and communities. The fund is provided through Regional Arts Australia and is administered in Queensland by Flying Arts Alliance.