Seven organisations – including Kando’s CEMENTA – have been announced as successful recipients of the Australia Government’s Regional Arts Fund (RAF) Recovery Grants in NSW, each receiving a share in $371,603 to deliver arts projects across regional NSW.
Administered in NSW by Regional Arts NSW, The RAF Recovery Boost was established by the Australian Government as a one-off fund to help the mid-term recovery of the arts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regional Arts NSW CEO Elizabeth Rogers says the funding will provide organisations with the means to reignite meaningful arts and cultural activities and support the skill development of artists across their regions for now and into the future.
“Regional NSW is fortunate to have so many creative and innovative arts organisations working with their local communities across the state. We are delighted to see such high-quality projects receive funding that will help to nurture and enhance the arts in regional NSW.
“The seven outstanding projects that have been awarded RAF Recovery Grants demonstrate a diversity of arts practice including dance, circus, music and visual arts with a strong representation from Aboriginal Artists. The successful projects will be delivered across a number of different regions from the Outback to the coast. Each project demonstrates an arts and cultural offering that is relevant and needed for their region, while collectively reigniting culture and activity across the wider state.
“We look forward to watching these seven great projects come to fruition in 2021.”
Of direct connection to our region:
Cementa Inc.: Regional Artist Mentoring Program 2021
This 12-month mentoring program will be a focused, tailored, creative and professional development program. Ten regional artists across ten areas of regional NSW will develop their artistic and professional practice in the lead up to a group exhibition at Firstdraft Gallery, curated by Amala Groom. The program is designed to deliver professional development to regional artists through an integrated program of mentorship, skills delivery, networking opportunities and creative development.
One artist from the Arts OutWest region will be mentored as part of this project, supported by Arts OutWest.
Cementa writes:
Cementa is thrilled to launch our Regional Artist Professional Development Program, funded through the Regional Arts Fund Recovery Grant. The program draws on the local knowledge of Regional Art Galleries and Regional Art Development Organisations to nominate potential candidates, with ten artists from across regional NSW being selected to participate.
The artists will be mentored by the program’s Creative Producer Amala Groom and four other leading Australian artists including Deborah Kelly, Liam Benson, Claudia Nicholson and Phil James.
They’ll also connect with Industry Leaders including Jeff Khan from Performance Space, Jess Cook from 107 Projects, Tian Zhang from PARI, Adam Porter from Campbelltown Art Centre and Michelle Newton from Artspace. This program represents Cementa’s commitment to supporting contemporary artists working and living in regional NSW, creating a culture unique to this context while connecting it into the broader currents of contemporary art.
If you are interested in finding out more please contact Karen Golland at kgolland@cementa.com.au
IMAGE CREDIT Karen Golland The Nature of Things Cementa15 #cementafestival #cementa #kandos PHOTOS CREDIT: Alex Wisser