MOUNT Gambier City Council’s cultural fund is open for applications with a total $17,000 available to local artists, community groups and not-for-profit organisations.
The fund will support the delivery of inspiring, creative and contemporary projects that contribute to a connected, vibrant and culturally diverse community.
The “creative spaces” grant aims to activate public spaces and key council priority areas to encourage creative and social interaction, partner with local businesses to create a vibrant street culture and develop stimulating spaces that attract visitors and create a sense of community attachment.
“Up to $4000 is available for creative spaces to add to the city’s profile as a vibrant and culturally diverse destination,” Riddoch Art Gallery director Melentie Pandilovski said.
“Initiatives might include installations, urban art, sculptures, projection, screen art, multi-art form, performance, live art or new media.”
Up to $13,000 is available for the “creative city” grant, which aims to support programs, projects and initiatives that culturally enrich Mount Gambier and events and festivals that encourage cultural tourism.
“We want to see projects that stimulate cultural and artistic exchange, link with professional artists to build cultural community capacity, contribute to social well-being through artistic and cultural participation and produce high-quality artistic and cultural works that celebrate Mount Gambier’s distinct arts, culture and heritage,” Dr Pandilovski said.
In 2016, a $5000 creative city grant enabled Mount Gambier kindergartens to engage community artist Deb Rogers to work with pre-school children and their families to create the Children’s
Artistic Voice Learning Exhibition, held at the Main Corner.
“It was so empowering for the children to see their work in a public space and it really validated their ideas and contributions as part of the community landscape,” Mount Gambier Children’s Centre community development coordinator Fiona Pulford said.
“It was also important for adults in the community to see the valuable contribution children make as active citizens.
“If you’re a community group or individual and you have got an exciting project that you want to see to come to life, I would encourage you to apply – it is fantastic to have funds available that ordinarily you just would not be able to access.”
To be successful, projects must align with council’s community plan and applications will be assessed against the priorities detailed in each of the funding programs.
Visit www.mountgambier.sa.gov.au/services/events for application guidelines and forms.
Applications close on March 7 at 5pm.
An information session for interested applicants will be held at the Main Corner on February 26 at 5.30pm
