Country Arts SA recognises that we are living and creating on First Nations Lands and we are committed to working together to honour their living cultures.
The Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund provided $153,241 in support of six arts projects across regional South Australia in the August 2022 Project Grants round.
The latest grant round supports a range of project types, including public art sculpture, creative development for a new theatre work, a retrospective exhibition honouring an exceptional regional South Australian visual artist, a music festival and a short film about the impacts of drought on regional communities.
Country Arts SA’s Chief Executive/Executive Director, Anthony Peluso said, “It is wonderful to see a diverse range of outstanding projects receive funding that allow artists to showcase their talents and inspire regional communities. From film, to sculpture, to music, these grants will not only benefit the artists involved but create community connections. The projects in this August 2022 round show the high calibre of artists living in regional South Australia and we are excited to see the final results.”
The themes for this round centered around showcasing regional South Australian visual artists and community projects. Several applicants delivered projects that hightlight the practise and achievements of the state’s regional visual artists or community issues and created opportunities for people to come together and engage with the arts.
Successful inititatives in this round include:
Riddoch Arts & Cultural Centre – Margaret Worth: Looking Out, Mount Gambier
Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre in Mount Gambier will host a retrospective exhibition that explores the breadth of practice by Victor Harbor-based artist Margaret Worth in August and September 2023. During her long career, Worth lived, studied and worked in New York among the most dynamic artists of the time, taught at several art schools and became a mother. Later in her career, Worth moved into public sculpture, harnessing the energies of wind and sound to create contemplative objects. The exhibition will be marketed nationally and is expected to attract visitors from South Australia and interstate.
Loxton Community Futures – Drought Short Film: Riverland
Loxton Community Futures will make a short film called ‘Drought’ which will address themes of mental health, the struggle of families in rural areas and the effect of drought on the family unit. Cast, crew and locations of the Riverland will be used to attribute authenticity to the project and final film. It is hoped the film will generate a conversation and provide greater reach and insight into these issues in rural communities.
The Australian Government supports regional artists, arts workers and organisations to develop and expand their artistic practice through the Regional Arts Fund. Funding targets activities that will have long term cultural, economic and social benefits for individuals and communities. Funding through the Regional Arts Fund assists communities and individuals 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 opportunities to access exciting arts and cultural activities.
The Regional Arts Fund is administered on behalf of the Australian Government by Regional Arts Australia and organisations in each state and territory which include Country Arts SA. The next funding round will open February 2023 and closes mid-March 2023 for projects that commence after 1 July 2023. For more information about the Regional Arts Fund please visit www.countryarts.org.au. A list of funded projects is below.
REGIONAL ARTS FUND – AUGUST 2022
LIST OF PROJECTS FUNDED IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Riddoch Arts & Cultural Centre – MOUNT GAMBIER $26,915
Margaret Worth: Looking Out
Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre in Mount Gambier will host a retrospective exhibition that explores the breadth of practice by Victor Harbor-based artist Margaret Worth in August and September 2023. During her long career, Worth lived, studied and worked in New York among the most dynamic artists of the time, taught at several art schools and became a mother. Later in her career, Worth moved into public sculpture, harnessing the energies of wind and sound to create contemplative objects. The exhibition will be marketed nationally and is expected to attract visitors from South Australia and interstate.
Loxton Community Futures – LOXTON $29,500
Drought Short Film
Loxton Community Futures will make a short film called ‘Drought’ which will address themes of mental health, the struggle of families in rural areas and the effect of drought on the family unit. Cast, crew and locations of the Riverland will be used to attribute authenticity to the project and final film. It is hoped the film will generate a conversation and provide greater reach and insight into these issues in rural communities.
Regional Galleries Association of SA – STATEWIDE $28,700
National Summit Regional Showcase
The National Public Galleries Summit is being presented in South Australia in June 2023 and the Regional Galleries Association SA (RGASA) will develop a showcase of regional artists and the work of the regional gallery sector in South Australia. Regionally-based artists will be invited to be part of the Summit through displays, live performances, digital content and/or workshops. A short digital film will be created to convey the work of regional galleries. The Summit activities will showcase the breadth and quality of regional arts practice in SA and provide professional and audience development opportunities.
Middleton Town & Foreshore Improvement Association – MIDDLETON $30,000
Southern Right Whale Sculpture
Middleton Town & Foreshore Improvement Association will engage celebrated sculptor Silvio Apponyi to transform a fallen red gum tree into a stunning sculpture of a Southern Right Whale and her calf. The sculpture will be installed next to the Encounter Bikeway in Middleton where it will be viewed by the many tourists and locals who walk or cycle the track. The sculpture will be welcomed and cleansed in a traditional smoking ceremony by Cedric Varcoe on behalf of the traditional land owners once complete.
Yankalilla District Community Cultural Arts Network Inc – YANKALILLA $8,126
Music in the Valley 2023
Music in the Valley is a family friendly, home-grown arts festival staged in the idyllic Inman Valley South Australia. The program has broad appeal for family audiences and offers a range of music groups and workshop activities that reflect a diversity of cultures, musical styles and levels of engagement. Artists will include The Timbers, the Wheatsheaf Ukelele Collective, Ami Williamson, Amazing Drumming Monkeys, Tal-Kin-Jeri dance group, Kelly’s Wayke, The Borderers and Sisters of Invention. First Nations representative Owen Love will conduct a Welcome to Country ceremony and didgeridoo performance. There will also be food and market stalls, licensed bar and onsite camping.
Ink Pot Arts – MOUNT BARKER $30,000
The Parsifal Project – Creative Development & Script
Ink Pot Arts will bring together international playwright Peter Oswald, Canberra-based artist/researcher Dr Fiona Campbell and acclaimed regional artists and community members for the creative development and script creation of The Parsifal Project. This unique exploration of sacred theatre will reframe the medieval narrative using 21st century techniques and themes and will take place in Mount Barker from January to April 2023. As Stage Three of a four-stage project, it builds on the successful online introductory workshops (Parsifal Unpacked June-July 2022) and creative writing workshops (Parsifal Reimagined Sept-Nov 2022) hosted by Ink Pot Arts.
Country Arts SA recognises that we are living and creating on First Nations Lands and we are committed to working together to honour their living cultures.