Almost $85,000 in grants will support creatives in south west Victoria to rebound, recover and explore new business opportunities as part of the first wave of the Victorian Government’s Sustaining Creative Workers initiative.
Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney welcomed the news that local creative workers and businesses would share in state-wide grants totalling $2.4 million through the first tranche of the program.
Sustaining Creative Workers provides quick response grants to support the work of professional creatives across all fields – from filmmakers, game developers and fashion designers to writers, visual artists, musicians, performers and many others.
The creative industries employ 280,000 people in Victoria and have been among the hardest hit sectors, with venue closures, screen industry shutdowns and event cancellations leaving thousands of creative practitioners and associated trades out of work and leading to millions in lost revenue.
Find Your Voice All Abilities Choir $10,000 grant will support the choir to develop and deliver its creative community practice online. Choir leader, Tom Richardson will receive $5,000 to adapt and pivot his personal and community music work to the online space.
Blarney Books and Arts in Port Fairy $10,000 grant will equip the business to reach a wider audience through online and digital activity.
Colac’s Judith Rochecoust $9,000 grant will support Colac Makers’ Space Inc to continue to support its members while physical space is closed through online tutorials and other activities.
Other recipients include:
- Wenn Lawson – $12,500 to support the filming of ‘Together in a Crowded Room’, a documentary about life on the autism spectrum.
- Port Fairy Winter – $8,000 to develop ‘Fresh Sessions’, an online project to profile local artists through a suite of videos and live interviews. The project follows the cancellation of 2020 Port Fairy Winter Weekends program.
- Brianna Kavanagh – $5,000 to undertake professional development and mentoring to build the audience and increase exposure for her growing YouTube music tutorial channel.
- Eleanor Millard – $5,000 to work with local photographer Jo O’Keefe to take professional and creative photographs of the work of local artists.
- Jimmi Buscombe – $5,000 to expand and market ‘Jimmi’s Trick of the Eye Workbooks’ which enable people to create their own 3D public artworks at home.
- Jock Serong – $5,000 to support the release of the author’s new novel, The Burning Island.
- Kate Gane – $5,000 to create a website and digital profile and build skills to present online performances from her home studio.
- Richard Pritchard – $5,000 to expand the reach of the BEAT Education online teaching platform to new markets, including schools.
Sustaining Creative Workers is part the Victorian Government’s overall $51.1 million response to protect creative jobs and ensure the state’s renowned creative sector survives the crisis.
The grants program was delivered in partnership with Regional Arts Victoria and Arts Access Victoria.
Visit creative.vic.gov.au to see a full list of recipients.
Quotes attributable to Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney
“Creativity has always played a strong role in our community. Over the past few months, while we have stayed home, the creative sector has played a vital role in entertaining us, inspiring us and keeping us connected.”
“However, the sector has been hit hard by event cancellations and venue closures. Even as restrictions slowly begin to ease, these workers and businesses will continue to be impacted for some time.”
“The Sustaining Creative Workers grants will help them adapt to these new circumstances, develop new sources of income or new ways to reach audiences, and keep working, building and future-proofing their business or career.”