MEDIA RELEASE - For immediate release
21 October 2014
$97,925 ANNOUNCED FOR REGIONAL ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES IN VICTORIA
Minister for the Arts, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC, has announced a total of $97,925 of funding for grants projects in
regional and rural communities across Victoria. Nine projects have been funded through the Australian Government’s highly
competitive Regional Arts Fund, delivered in Victoria by Regional Arts Victoria.
Director of Regional Arts Victoria, Esther Anatolitis said, “I’m delighted to see such inspiring and inventive new work supported
by this latest Regional Arts Fund, reflecting the depth and the diversity of artistic practice throughout Victoria. This Regional
Arts Fund round supports new work across performance poetry, drama, installation, textile, public spaces and more. From the
collaborative Weaving Stories of the Murray, to the transformative Great Southern Sculpture Garden in Foster, this Regional
Arts Fund round will support a great deal of important new work. Regional Arts Victoria is proud to partner with the Australian
Government on this vital program. We thank all the applicants as well as our independent panel for their commitment to this
Fund.”
Successful applicants in Round 2, 2014 include:

Weaving Stories - Mildura
A collaborative project initiated by the Mildura Palimpsest Biennale and the Mildura Dreamtime Weavers. Mentored by
Maree Clarke and Yhonnie Scarce the project aims to provide opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists
to collaborate in weaving the stories of the Murray into a major multi-media installation.

St Arnaud Street Museum – St Arnaud
The community will work together with world-class artists to bring life to the shop fronts and wall spaces to make up a
series of installations, conceived as one overall artwork. Four artists will reside in St Arnaud for a month each to
create a changing exhibition throughout 2015.

Slam Fest – Mount Beauty
Provides local Mount Beauty Secondary College students with an opportunity to explore the contemporary art form of
slam poetry in a supportive environment. World class Slam Poet, Emilie Zoey Baker will engage students in a three
day workshop on the fundamentals of Slam Poetry. These workshops will culminate in performances as part of the
annual Mount Beauty Music Festival, as well as a special one off performance with Alpine Health Aged Care
Residents.

Please see attached for a full list and description of all recipients.
The Regional Arts Fund is the Australian Government program that aims to provide all Australians in regional and remote areas
with better access to opportunities to practice and experience the arts. The Regional Arts Fund supports sustainable cultural
development in communities across regional, remote and very remote Australia. Funding is targeted at activities that will have
long-term cultural, economic and social benefits for individuals and communities through the development of partnerships and
cultural networks. It provides artists with professional development and employment opportunities, and supports arts and
community development projects that provide regional communities with the opportunity to access and participate in cultural
activities. The Regional Arts Fund has an emphasis on building capacity in youth, disadvantaged, very remote or Indigenous
communities.
There are two funding rounds per year. Applications for Round 1, 2015 close on Monday 16 March.
Visit http://www.rav.net.au/funding-opportunities/regional-arts-fund/ for further details.
For more information on Round 2, 2014 funded projects, please contact:
Pia Richardson, Marketing and Publicity Manager, Regional Arts Victoria
E: prichardson@rav.net.au
M: 0419 135 413
P: (03) 9644 1802
Patron: Alex Chernov AC QC, Governor of Victoria
Regional Arts Victoria – inspiring art across the state
The Village Festival of New Performance (Inc)
$14,200
Stories of Castlemaine – FRYERSTOWN
A local history project, an intergenerational community development project and a multi-arts community festival. Personal
stories about Castlemaine are collected from town elders. These stories are then interpreted by local youth and other
community members under the guidance of experienced artists. Artforms used are visual art, fire art, theatrical performance
and music. All these elements will come together in a community firelighting ritual that forms the centrepiece of the 2015
Castlemaine Village Winter Festival.
Verity Higgins
$14,800
The Freda Experience – BALLARAT
This project will involve the final development, rehearsal and presentation of The Freda Experience, an immersive participatory
theatre piece inspired by the life of pioneering Australian mountaineer Fred Du Faur, at the Castlemaine State Festival and
NatiFrinj Festival in 2015.
Mount Beauty Music Muster Inc
$5,125
Slam Fest – MOUNT BEAUTY
This project provides local Mount Beauty Secondary College students with an opportunity to explore the contemporary art form
of slam poetry in a supportive environment. World class Slam Poet, Emilie Zoey Baker will engage students in a three day
workshop on the fundamentals of Slam Poetry. These workshops will culminate in performances as part of the annual Mount
Beauty Music Festival, as well as a special one off performance with Alpine Health Aged Care Residents.
Dave Jones
$7,800
Seed of Change – NATIMUK
This project will be an installation comprising a series of time-lapse and animated works. Lead artist Dave Jones will
collaborate with the students of Natimuk Primary School and ultimately exhibited at the Centre for Contemporary Photography
and the Horsham Regional Art Gallery as part of Climarte in mid-2015.
Foster Station Park Advisory Committee
$15,000
Great Southern Sculpture Garden – FOSTER
This project establishes the Great Southern Sculpture Garden (GSSG) with the installation of public art. It involves South
Gippsland artists, Indigenous people, youth, elderly people and community organisations including the Men’s Shed and
Community Garden through arts workshops and collaboration. The sculptures will rest within the landscape and interact with
each other and the natural surrounds.
The Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-Operative
$5,000
The Bendigo and District Aboriginal Possum Skins Cloak project – BENDIGO
The Dja Dja Wurrung clan will produce two traditional possum skin cloaks focusing on a "Strong Family" theme rejuvenating
the cultural practice of making possum skin cloaks. The Indigenous community will gain firsthand experience and vital
knowledge of the process, and in turn will help to heal community members from past historical events and empower the
community to build towards self-determination, a culturally rich and strong foundation for future generations.
Carly Garonne
$15,000
St Arnaud Street Museum – ST ARNAUD
The community will work together with world-class artists to bring life to the shop fronts and wall spaces to make up a series of
installations, conceived as one overall artwork. Four artists will reside in St Arnaud for a month each to create a changing
exhibition throughout 2015.
Patron: Alex Chernov AC QC, Governor of Victoria
Regional Arts Victoria – inspiring art across the state
Arts Mildura Inc
$15,000
Weaving Stories – MILDURA
A collaborative project initiated by the Mildura Palimpsest Biennale and the Mildura Dreamtime Weavers. Mentored by Maree
Clarke and Yhonnie Scarce the project aims to provide opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to collaborate
in weaving the stories of the Murray into a major multi-media installation.
Kyneton District Health
$6,000
Epiphany garden – KYNETON
A community arts and cultural development project that aims to gather diverse community interest around the theme of health
and well-being. Epiphany Garden at Kyneton District Health is a unique physical place-making arts project. The garden’s
design will be an inspired response to community aspirations for a place of contemplation for patients, family, carers and
community of all ages. It will become a gathering place for healthy community interaction.
Patron: Alex Chernov AC QC, Governor of Victoria
Regional Arts Victoria – inspiring art across the state