Four key regional Queensland arts companies will undertake multi-year post-COVID renewal initiatives thanks to the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund (RAF).
Flying Arts Alliance and Regional Arts Australia have announced the successful recipients of a total of $600,000 in strategic arts funding under the RAF Recovery Boost – Renewal grant stream.
Four regional Queensland companies will each receive $150,000 over three years to implement programs focused on strategic growth and renewed arts practice.
Projects include a First Nations artist and arts worker residency exchange between Townsville and Maningrida NT, an employment initiative engaging senior high school students in arts industry career mentorships, with a First Nations-led methodology, a three–year exchange program investing in regional theatre companies in Queensland and the NT, and a series of dance programs connecting diverse community groups with a professional dance company.
The RAF Recovery Boost is a $10 million targeted measure announced by the Australian Government in April 2020 as part of the COVID recovery package. It responds to the difficulties experienced by regional artists, arts organisations and communities who have been heavily impacted by COVID-19.
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cites and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said it was great to see the Regional Arts Fund was continuing to support artists and art workers across regional Australia.
“We know our regional and remote communities have been hit hard this past year. These projects are now more important than ever in assisting our community to renew and rebuild.
“I’m pleased that these four projects will directly support their local community by providing opportunities that will cultivate creative partnerships, provide new employment opportunities, and develop new performance and mentorship programs,” Minister Fletcher said.
Flying Arts Alliance Executive Officer, Kerryanne Farrer was impressed by the quality of applications.
“The RAF Renewal stream has been a welcome boost of new arts funding in regional Queensland, and the opportunity was embraced warmly by a hugely competitive field of applicants. The winning companies have risen to the top with four exceptional new initiatives supporting First Nations culture, employment, investment in regional talent and deep community engagement.” said Ms Farrer,
“The new funding will in turn stimulate new partnerships and added jobs and economic growth across the State, helping arts companies and communities renew themselves post COVID-19.”
For more information on the Regional Arts Fund in Queensland, including upcoming round dates and how to apply, please go to flyingarts.org.au/raf or phone 07 3216 1322.
Regional Arts Fund Recovery Boost – Renewal Recipients 2020 – 2021
| Applicant | Project Title | Project | Funding Amount | Project Location |
| Bundaberg Regional Council | wuga dhulayu – Accelerated Arts Education Program | wuga dhulayu (waga thew-lie-you) is a community-led and industry-focused arts acceleration program initiated by the Bundaberg Regional Council (BRC) in collaboration with key community stakeholders. It is aimed at senior school students (years 10-12) interested in an arts career as a way of providing a career trajectory for participants. The focus is providing unique cultural exchanges guided by an inclusive and Indigenous-led methodology. Students considering an arts career will be accelerated by wuga dhulayu through opportunities for learning, mentorships and professional experience in producing and creating collaborative work. Regional students will benefit from the program’s head start into the professional arts industry. | $150,000 | Bundaberg, 4670 |
| Dancenorth Australia Ltd | ‘Deeper than Dancing’ by Dancenorth Australia | ‘Deeper than Dancing’ explores the uncharted territory that exists between Dancenorth’s community and curated programs. A responsive and unfolding program of movement classes, creative workshops, conversations, gatherings and events with three key communities, the project is conceived to facilitate an open exchange of art, culture, experiences and perspectives between company and people. Building on the longstanding engagement work with diverse communities and Dancenorth’s reputation for brave, new ideas, ‘Deeper than Dancing’ is an exciting evolution of the company’s work, conceived to develop not only the connection, but the porosity of exchange between community and art. | $150,000 | Townsville, 4810 |
| Just Us Theatre Ensemble Trading As JUTE Theatre Company | Build Back Better – Partnering for Regional Theatre Growth | Build Back Better Project will re-invigorate regional theatre through strategies that build cross-regional theatre skills, enable cost-effective touring and share resources and knowledge to strengthen capacity over a 3-year pilot program with independent evaluation. JUTE will lead the project, partnering, consulting and collaborating with Queensland regional and Northern Territory producers, small regional and remote venues, local councils and Regional Arts Service Network, strategising to increase skills, tour new and diverse work, improve employment opportunities for regional theatre-makers, ensure regional audience growth, wider arts engagement, and strong inter-regional networks servicing mutual needs of regional theatre sectors. | $150,000 | Cairns, 4870 |
| Umbrella Studio Contemporary Art | Japurra Ngapa-jirra / Wadda Mooli: Connecting the North | A First Nations artist and artworker residency exchange project, Japurra Ngapa-jirra/Wadda Mooli will connect Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts and Maningrida Arts & Culture. Both organisations share a parallel history of strong First Nations arts practice. Over the years informal relationships have developed between artists, staff and projects. This has created a First Nations led desire to share knowledge, arts practice, and resources through a formal program where the public outcomes will be built through the growth of relationships. In this program, artists from the larger Maningrida and North Queensland communities will have the opportunity to visit each others’ Countries and exchange skills and knowledge. | $150,000 | Townsville, 4810 |
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For media enquiries or to arrange an interview with a grant recipient or Ms Farrer please contact:
Odette Miller
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Flying Arts Alliance
comms@flyingarts.org.au
Flying Arts Alliance acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands and seas on which we work, live and create. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
Flying Arts Alliance is honoured to acknowledge the Governor of Queensland, His Excellency, the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC as our Patron. We also acknowledge Mr Tim Fairfax AC and Mrs Gina Fairfax as our Cultural Patrons.
Flying Arts is a not-for-profit organisation inspiring the appreciation, practice and professional development of the visual and media arts as a lifetime interest or career throughout regional and remote Queensland, supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, and corporate partners and benefactors.
Flying Arts is the administrator in Queensland of the Regional Arts Fund (RAF), an Australian Government program provided through Regional Arts Australia.
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.