Media Release
Four Project Grants have received $98,518 in funding through the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, delivered in Victoria by Regional Arts Victoria.
Director, Strategic Initiatives at Regional Arts Victoria, Susie Lyons thanked everyone who applied in this round noting that this was the largest number of applications ever received to the Regional Arts Fund.
“At Regional Arts Victoria, we are proud to deliver this vital Australian Government funding program to communities in Victoria. Now more than ever, we are seeing more artists and communities engaging in this important and highly competitive program. We want to thank the members of the independent assessment panel for their time and commitment in supporting exceptional and diverse arts practice in regional Victoria.”
Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, warmly congratulated the recipients and their vital contributions to the richness, diversity and uniqueness of Australia’s arts scene.
“Our story cannot be told without the voices of artists from regional and remote Australia,” Minister Burke said.
“That’s why the Albanese Government is increasing its support for the Regional Arts Fund by an additional $8.5 million over the next four years – promoting a thriving arts scene across the country.
“A key pillar of Revive, Australia’s new National Cultural Policy is to ensure there’s a place for every story, and a story for every place – this funding helps ensure that.”
The Regional Arts Fund is an Australian Government program that supports sustainable cultural development in regional and remote communities in Australia.
Please see the full list and description below of all recipients.
Information regarding upcoming rounds will be made available via https://www.rav.net.au/funding-opportunities/
2023 SUCCESSFUL PROJECT GRANT APPLICANTS
Ballarat International Foto Biennale
Ballarat
$20,782
Celebrating ‘The Real Thing’
Jeff Moorfoot OAM, founding father of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, returns to curate ‘The Real Thing’ – a milestone exhibition for the Biennale’s tenth anniversary. First held in 2005 as a regional exhibition, the Biennale has become Australia’s most engaging and immersive photographic arts event held every two years on Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung Country. To celebrate the tenth anniversary, ‘The Real Thing’ invites fifteen respected photographers from regional Victoria to participate for the first time, in an inaugural Core Program event that aims to encourage inclusion, professional development and engagement with new audiences.
Fairfax Youth Initiative
Swan Hill
$25,762
MARRUK REIGNITED
Fairfax Youth Initiative will reignite Marruk, a First Nations-led youth theatre initiative born in the Mallee in 2009. This funding will engage multiple professional First Nations artists to work with Bayden Clayton, an original participant and now a highly regarded community youth leader, to maximise the cultural and creative connection through the Fairfax Festival. The funding will be used for mentorship, community workshops and public presentation costs.
Isabella Giovinazzo
Ocean Grove
$27,412
‘FINN’ Short Film
Based on the true events, Isabella Giovinazzo and Isabelle Pearl Love-Dack will create a short film to unify autistic and non-autistic audiences, by exploring themes of friendship, grief, trauma, PTSD, parenthood and self-authenticity. Set across mountain ranges and coastal regions of Wadawarrung country, ‘Finn’ will portray un-represented autistic women, autistic non-binary people, and autistic people of colour. Isabella will collaborate with other regional screen professionals, in mentoring next-generation regional filmmakers, on production of this film.
Mark Lang
Point Lonsdale
$24,562
Mark Lang Out To Sea Filmed Podcast Series
‘Out to Sea’ is a filmed podcast series created by singer/songwriter and filmmaker Mark Lang. The series will explore creative practice, place, song writing, storytelling, touring and the business of making a sustainable lifelong career in the arts. Set in the Victorian coastal villages of Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale that Mark calls home. The series will feature some of Australia’s finest songwriters discussing the ups and downs of making a lifelong career in the arts. Woven throughout each episode will be the landscape, historical buildings and the everyday life and stories of a small Australian coastal village.
About Regional Arts Victoria:
Regional Arts Victoria backs artists and communities across regional Victoria to make, participate in, and experience creative work.
Regional Arts Victoria is an independent, not-for-profit, membership-based organisation working in long-term partnerships with every level of government, fostering contemporary and innovative regional cultural practice. We advise and impact on decision-making across multiple portfolios and levels of government.
Regional Arts Victoria is the peak body for regional artists and arts organisations, and the leading organisation for regional creative practice in Victoria.
END
Media Contact:
Kate Gerritsen, Communications and Engagement, Senior Manager| communications@rav.net.au
Image: Successful Regional Arts Fund applicant Kat Pengelly presentation of Truck, Lest We Forget Collection. Photo by Michelle McFarlane Photography.