Seventeen New England North West Creative Projects Funded By Arts North West

 
 

Seventeen creative endeavours have been successfully funded through the fourth round of the Arts North West Micro Grants program.

The first round of Micro Grants was announced in 2020 as direct response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Due to their popularity, Micro Grants have continued to be a regular fixture in Arts North West programming ever since. Currently, the fund has expended approximately $40,000 directly to supporting locally-determined community arts and cultural practice as the region continues to face uncertain times, most recently experiencing extensive flooding.

Arts North West recognises the effects of disaster on creatives and their arts practices, therefore this funding aims to be as flexible as possible, and projects do not require a specific outcome but can focus on skills development or capacity-building.

“We are still finding ourselves in very unusual times in the New England North West but our arts and cultural community is as vibrant as ever,” said Arts North West Executive Director, Lauren Mackley.

“We are absolutely thrilled at the response to this funding round. We received numerous quality applications from an incredibly talented and diverse group of people.”

The successful applicants are as follows:

Professional development

• Bronwyn Clarke (Armidale): The grant will enable attendance to a writing retreat/landscape research locale visit.

• Helena Pastor (Armidale): Professional development attending an ASA Professional Mentorship with Lee Kofman.

• Janna Hayes (Armidale): Attend an artist workshop with Julia Ross Allcorn to inform her first solo exhibition.

• Leah Bullen (Armidale): Undertake two online professional development opportunities.

• Tamworth Dramatic Society (Tamworth): TDS will fund up to three members to attend NIDA short courses to build their skills in directing, costume design, stage management, sound design and make up.

Music, performance, and theatre

• Barney Street Band (Armidale): Record an album at Al Heeney’s Keystone Recording Studio.

• Iter Novum Pty Ltd (Tamworth): 'You'll Miss the Tide Productions' will be developing and delivering a theatre production.

• Sarah Leete (Baan Baa): Venues hire, payment for support acts for local performances and marketing show for upcoming tour.

• Yulugi Marumali (Moree): 5 participants to attend Winangali Infusion’s Gamilaraay Gathering event in Boggabilla.

Materials and supplies

• Brigitte Brummell (Glen Innes): Purchase arts supplies to extend and refine arts practices.

• Beatriz Alvarez (Armidale): Purchase arts supplies to extend and refine arts practices.

• Ebanita Sewa Emojong (Tamworth): The purchase of a new laptop.

• Edgar Alvarez Fine Art (Tamworth): Purchase arts supplies to extend and refine arts practices.

• Glen Innes Pottery Club (Glen Innes): The purchase of a vacuum to remove silica dust from studio area.

• Julie Harris (Armidale): Purchase arts supplies to extend and refine arts.

• Mona Fernando (Moree): Purchase arts supplies to extend and refine arts practices and deliver community workshops.

• Siobhan O'Hanlon (Armidale): Production and materials to develop a new collection of jewellery.

For more information, contact Lauren Mackley via rado@artsnw.com.au

Arts North West Micro Grants Ready to Roll

New England North West creatives are set to benefit directly from Arts North West, with the announcement of another round of Arts North West’s Micro Grants opening in early August.

The first round of Micro Grants was announced in April 2020 and saw a range of artists and arts projects boosted during the COVID-19 pandemic, including musicians, textile artists, visual artists, performing artists and more. Since then, the fund has expended around $25,000 directly to New England North West creatives.

“Announcing the opening of the Micro Grants Funding round is one of my first tasks as the new Executive Director of Arts North West” said Arts North West Executive Director Lauren Mackley.

“It has been an incredibly challenging couple of years for our arts community in the New England North West, from droughts, bushfires, Covid and now floods, and it gives me great joy to know that we have the opportunity to financially assist creatives and their practice as they navigate these unprecedented times.” Ms Mackley continued.

Designed to support the continuation of locally-determined community arts and cultural practice in uncertain times, this funding aims to be as flexible as possible. Projects can be outcome-focused or be designed around skills development or capacity-building.

“The main reasons why this fund is so well prescribed, is the simple application and the quick turnaround, something you do not get when applying to other funds. Applications open first week of August and closing on 5 September, and each applicant can apply for up to $1000. Successful applicants will be notified on 19 September. Previous unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to reapply.” Concluded Ms Mackley.

To apply to the Arts North West Micro Grants Round, visit the Arts North West website www.artsnw.com.au or contact the Arts North West office for more information (02) 6732 4988.