$801,000 to Support New Arts Projects Across Victoria

Date: 16 June 2009

Victoria's thriving arts sector has received a $801,000 Brumby Labor Government boost with grants announced today to support the creation, presentation and programming of new works across the state.

 Arts Minister Lynne Kosky said 53 arts projects had received funding in the latest round of grants through the Arts Development program.

 
"The Brumby Government is taking action to develop and strengthen Victoria's reputation as Australia's cultural capital," Ms Kosky said.

"The Arts Development program supports and further develops our artists and our artistic reputation by supporting innovative, engaging and inspirational new arts projects across the state."

Ms Kosky said the latest grants supported diverse arts activity from a broad cross-section of Victorian artists and organisations.

"Projects supported in this round reflect the creative strength and diversity of the arts sector across Victoria, from emerging and established artists working across all artforms including dance, literature, theatre and sculpture, music and multi-artform collaborations."

Supported projects include:

• The development of new performances by local theatre companies, Black Hole Theatre, My Darling Patricia, Ranters Theatre, The Hayloft Project and The Store Room;
• The development of dirtsong, the latest production by The Black Arm Band whose previous productions, also supported through the Arts Development and International programs, won national and international acclaim for their uplifting celebration of Indigenous music;
• The presentation of Feet of Clay by Sharon Huebner, a cross-media work incorporating digital video, audio and music set on location at Mount Arapiles;
• The development of new novels for young adults by authors Simmone Howell and Fiona Wood; and
• New dance works by Lucy Guerin Inc, Weave Movement Theatre and performer/choreographer Byron Perry.

 Ms Kosky said the Brumby Labor Government was committed to providing more opportunities for Victorian artists and audiences.

"These grants will support Victorian artists to build their careers and expand their practice. This round also supports our arts audiences by ensuring that there is always something new to experience in the arts in Victoria."

Arts Development Recipients

Catergory 1: CREATION

Ausdance Victoria on behalf of Weave Movement Theatre (Fitzroy): $15,000
Development of Triplicity, three dance theatre pieces exploring notions of assimilation, falling, the body and emotional histories, by choreographers Gerard Van Dyck, Kate Middleweek and Michelle Heaven working with the Weave Movement Theatre ensemble.  

Auspicious Arts Projects on behalf of Redspan Dance Company (Brunswick): $16,000
Development of Vista, a full-length dance work exploring intercultural relationships between Asia and the West, by choreographer Feng Feng Wang, dramaturg Don Asker, composer Gus Macmillan, lighting designer Nicole Broedser, set designer Anna Cordingley and dancers including Nick Sommerville and Suhaili Michelline.  

Black Hole Theatre Inc (Southbank): $15,000

Development of SealsKin, a new theatre work for young people telling the story of a young boy's struggle to navigate the emotional upheavals of his life. Key artists include Chris Kohn, Daryl Beeton, Nancy Black, Bryan Woltjen, Elf Tranzporter, Darrin Verhagen, John Bolton, Michelle Heaven, Rod Primrose, Krisztian Bagin, Lana Schwarcz, Heath McIvor and Syd Brisbane.

 Chisholm, David (Carlton North): $19,000
Development of Kursk: an Oratorio Requiem, a composition project which will serve as a memorial for the Russian submarine Kursk, which sank in 2000, by David Chisholm working with Anzhelina Polonskaya, Eric Dudley, Joshua Bloom, Jessica Aszodi and the Arko Symphonic Project.  

City of Melbourne on behalf of The Black Arm Band (North Melbourne): $15,000
Development of dirtsong, a contemporary music production by The Black Arm Band, performed predominantly in indigenous languages. Artists involved include Kutcha Edwards, Shane Howard, Archie Roach, Lou Bennett, Joe Geia, David Arden, Peter Rotumah, Ursula Yovich, Emma Donovan, Shellie Morris, Mark Atkins, Ruby Hunter, Bart Willoughby, Rachel Maza, Stephen Pigrum, Alexis Wright, Eugene Ball and Iain Grandage.  

Cole, Bindi (Altona North): $16,000
Creation of a series of photographic portraits of the Sistergirls, a community of transexuals and drag queens living on the Tiwi Islands by Bindi Cole, with an accompanying literary work by Jirra Lulla Harvey.  

Force Majeure on behalf of Byron Perry (Kensington): $7,000
Development of Facade Fatigue, a new dance work exploring the emotional impact of space, choreographed and performed by Byron Perry working with co-performer/devisor Kirstie McCracken.  

Geikie, Starlie (Northcote): $13,000
Creation of a new body of work examining the gender representations and associations made with craft, formalism and minimalist sculpture, by Starlie Geikie.  

Gorton, Lisa (Brunswick West): $14,000
Development of Hotel Galactic, a book-length collection of poems drawing on science fiction, superstition and particle physics using forms of poetry such as essay poems, dramatic monologues and lyrics, by Lisa Gorton.  

Howell, Simmone (Castlemaine): $12,000
Development to first draft stage of Girl on the Water, a novel for young adults by Simmone Howell.  

Insite Arts Pty Ltd on behalf of Sam Routledge (East Brunswick): $12,000
Development of The Outside, a cross artform theatre work that explores the rising parental suspicion of the virtual world, by Sam Routledge, Martyn Coutts, Willoh S Weiland, Anthony Ahern, Jacob Williams, Margaret Mills and James Saunders.  

Jacobs, Susan (Princess Hill): $9,000
Creation of Security Illusion, a new inter-disciplinary work of sculptural installation and performance/video, re-interpreting Yves Klein's Leap into the Void, by Susan Jacobs.  

Jump Leads Limited (Prahran): $18,000
Second-stage development of I'm Still Awake, Still!, a multi-form theatre work for young audiences aged 3-6 years based on the book of the same name, by Jump Leads (Jessica Wilson, Jonathan Oxlade, Sue Johnson, Elizabeth Honey and Philip Lethlean).  

Krien, Anna (East Brunswick): $5,000
Development of a collection of short stories by Anna Krien.  

Lucy Guerin Association Inc (West Melbourne): $15,000
First-stage development of 09-10, a new dance work by Lucy Guerin Inc which will explore the relationship between experiencing the everyday against the backdrop of cataclysmic world events.  

Mangan, Nicholas (North Melbourne): $13,000
Development of an installation exploring aspects of the island of Nauru, by Nick Mangan.  

Marguerite Pepper Productions Pty Ltd on behalf of My Darling Patricia (Clifton Hill): $18,000
Development of Africa, a new theatre work featuring puppetry, performance, video and a multi-level set design, exploring the resilient powers of imagination, fantasy and escape in the lives of children, by My Darling Patricia and collaborators.  

Mestrom, Sanné (Northcote): $9,000
Development of The Cutting Edge, a suite of site-responsive sculptural works that explore themes of uncertainty and crisis through materiality, by Sanné Mestrom.  

Monash University on behalf of Kathy Temin (North Caulfield): $11,000
Creation of Black Cube Forest, a new large-scale sculpture exploring themes of loss and memorial, by Kathy Temin.

 Pateras, Anthony (Fairfield): $10,000
Development of Displacement Fragmentation, a percussion work incorporating diverse composition techniques.  

Purdy, Susan (Stony Creek): $18,000
Creation of Australia Phoenix, a new body of photograms by visual artist Susan Purdy.  

Ranters Theatre Inc (St Kilda): $17,000
Second stage development of Intimacy, a theatre work exploring the intimacy between performers and their audience, by Ranters Theatre working with Anna Tregloan, Niklas Patjanti and David Franzke.  

The Store Room (North Fitzroy): $16,000
Second-stage development of Bare Life, an experiential performance installation that imaginatively examines the situation of an asylum seeker trapped inside their fantasy of the first world, by The Store Room Theatre with Dr Glenn D'Cruz, Aidan Fennessey, Terry Yeboah, Greg Ulfan and Gorkem Acaroglu.  

The Trustee for Knox Family Trust (Alexander Knox) (Somers): $15,000
Creation of Light Synthesizer, a light-emitting object that can be activated by the viewer.  

Wax Sound Media Pty Ltd (Northcote): $11,000
Development of Vanishing Tekopia, a new instrumental musical work by the David Chesworth Ensemble.  

Wood, Fiona (South Yarra): $9,000
Development to first draft stage of Pulchritude, a novel for young adults about trust and betrayal.

Category 2: PRESENTATION

45 DOWNSTAIRS (Melbourne): $30,000

Presentation of DO NOT GO GENTLE, a play Patricia Cornelius, directed by Julian Meyrick with Irine Vela, Monica Maughan, Terry Norris, Malcolm Robertson and Pamela Rabe at fortyfivedownstairs, August-October 2009.

 Anderson, Peter (Sutton Grange): $19,000
Presentation of The Artist's Books of Robert Jacks, the first comprehensive examination of four decades of work along with new artist's book works, curated by Peter Anderson, at Bendigo Art Gallery, October-November 2009.  

Ausdance Victoria on behalf of Soo Yeun You (Travancore): $19,000
Presentation of Reliquary, a multi-artform performance work that draws upon the symbolism and spirituality of Indigenous Australian and Korean cultural heritage. Incorporating dance, theatre, puppetry, media projection and sound design, by Soo Yeun You, Gina Rings, Hamish Fletcher, Philippe Pasquier, Deon Hastie, Albert David, Yi Zhang and Brandon Hur, at Arts House, July 2010.  

Auspicious Arts Projects on behalf of The Hayloft Project (Southbank): $23,000
Presentation of Renovated AMERICA a radical re-visioning of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night investigating the American condition and Australia's relation to it, involving artists Simon Stone, Rob Menzies, Luke Mullins, Claude Marcos and Danny Pettingill, at The Victorian Trades Hall, July-September 2009.  

Auspicious Arts Projects on behalf of Sharon Huebner (Preston): $17,000
Presentation of Feet of Clay, a cross-media work by Sharon Huebner involving a two-channel digital video/audio installation set on location at Mount Arapiles with a musical score composed by David Chisholm, performed by Tristram Williams and Geoff Lierse in collaboration with the Natimuk Brass Band, with musical director Timothy Phillips. To be presented as part of Nati Frinj Festival, August-November 2009.  

BalletLab (Southbank): $30,000
Presentation of Miracle, a new 60-minute work for four dancers by choreographer Phillip Adams in collaboration with composer David Chisholm and sound artist Myles Mumford, with Brooke Stamp, Clair Peters, Luke George and Kyle Kremerskothen, at Arts House, Meat Market, August 2009.  

Insite Arts Pty Ltd on behalf of James Saunders (Seddon): $23,000
Presentation of The Harry Harlow Project, a contemporary multi-disciplinary theatre piece based on the life and work of Harry Harlow by writer/performer James Saunders, director Brian Lipson, composer Kelly Ryall, video artist Martyn Coutts and dramaturg Kate Sulan, at The Fairfax Theatre as part of Full Tilt, November-December 2009.  

Lifschitz, Sonya (Brighton East): $11,000
Presentation of Smoking Mirrors, a new instrumental work inspired by an Aztec myth, composed by Kate Neal for pianist Sonya Lifschitz and the Arcko Ensemble, directed by Timothy Phillips, at Melba Hall, November 2009  

Monash University on behalf of Kathy Temin (North Caulfield): $15,000
Presentation of Kathy Temin, an exhibition that spans 20 years of work from 1989-2009, at Heide Museum of Modern Art, July-Nov 2009.

 Moriarty's Project Inc on behalf of Carlee Mellow (Yarraville): $19,000
Presentation of Prologue, a collaboration between choreographer/dancer Carlee Mellow, sound artist Kelly Ryall and lighting designer Ben Cobham along with costume designer Doyle Barrow and dramaturg/mentor Margaret Cameron to explore real-time performance, at fortyfivedownstairs, February 2010.  

Oldmeadow, Jonathan (Windsor): $5,000
Presentation of Safari Team Dig to China Part III, a new work incorporating interactive installation, performance and video examining the role of the imagination in the construction and warping of the Earth's interior according to mythology, involving Blaine Cooper, Jon Oldmeadow and Lillian O'Neil at West Space, July-September 2009.  

Ranters Theatre Inc (St Kilda): $30,000
Presentation of Affection, a new major theatre work that explores the complex nature of human affection and questions the conventions of the performer/audience relationship, involving Raimondo Cortese, Adriano Cortese, Patrick Moffatt, Paul Lum, Heather Bolton, Anna Tregloan, Niklas Pajanti and Anastasia Russell-Head, at The Black Box, July 2009.  

Rowlands, Robbie (Preston West): $10,000
Presentation of Salvaged, an exhibition of site-responsive artworks that have been created using decommissioned building sites and objects, by artist Robbie Rowlands in Central Dandenong, September 2009.  

Snaith, Tai (Fitzroy): $7,000
Presentation of The Living Room, a collaborative installation involving 11 artists which will turn a gallery space into an inhabitable, functional living room, involving Tai Snaith, Tim Flemming, Belle Bassin, Sally Blenheim, Dylan Martorell, Ghostpatrol, Rory Hyde, Scott Mitchell, Annie Wu, Rowan McNaught and Kotoe Ishii, at Blindside Gallery, October 2009.  

Sometimes, Alicia (Elwood): $12,000
Presentation of Elemental: Poetry at the Planetarium, a cross-artform work by four poets, three sound artists, three video artists and a guest scientist. Artists involved include Alicia Sometimes, Emilie Zoey Baker, Sean M Whelan, Paul Mitchell, Nat Bales, Chris Neims (UK), Ai Yamamoto, Rob Kennedy (UK), Mim Whiting and Lawrence English (QLD), at the Melbourne Planetarium, October 2009.  

UN Projects Inc (Collingwood): $16,000
Presentation of volume 3, issue 2 of the contemporary art journal un Magazine, involving Zara Stanhope, Jared Davis, Angela Brophy, Amelia Douglas, Phip Murray, Andrea Bell and Brad Haylock, July 2009 - February 2010.

Category 3: PROGRAMMING

Arapiles Community Theatre Inc (Natimuk): $28,000
Presentation of the Nati Frinj, a three day program that will involve a diversity of events in support of the practice of emerging artists in Natimuk, Western Victoria, July-November 2009.  

Ballarat International Foto Biennale Inc (Ballarat): $19,000
Presentation of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale 2009 (BIFB'09), a month long multi-event Festival of photography comprising a core exhbition program of 20 shows, a fringe exhibition program, and a supporting educational program, in the City of Ballarat and the towns of Daylesford, Trentham, Creswick, Clunes and Smeaton, September-October 2009.  

Bus Gallery Inc (Melbourne): $10,000
Presentation of a six month curated exhibition program of spatial arts including sound art, performance, installation and video involving Jelena Telecki, Marc Alperstein, Simon O'Carrigan, Symon McVilley, Anthony Sawrey, Rebecca Adams, Kit Wise, Torika Bolatagici, Hamish Carr, Sharon Billings, Kez Hughes and Jonathan Heilbron, at Bus Gallery, July- December 2009.  

Conical Contemporary Art Space Inc (Fitzroy): $15,000
Presentation of a curated six-month program of contemporary visual art projects, with an emphasis on experimental, collaborative and inter-disciplinary projects involving Adrien Allen, David Simpkin and Katie Lee, at Conical Inc, July-December 2009.  

Frankston City Council (Frankston): $16,000
Presentation of a 6 month contemporary cross-media arts project in the Frankston CBD, involving artists Beth Arnold, Lou Hubbard, Alex Selenitsh, Alex Gibson and Torika Bolatagici, July-December 2009.  

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra (Melbourne): $20,000
Presentation of the last two concerts in the Fresh Fields series, as part of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra's 2009 program, involving , Benjamin Northey, Igor Machlak and Olga Kharatanova and Rachael Beesley, at the Melbourne Recital Centre, August-October 2009.

 Melbourne University Publishing Inc (Carlton): $15,000
Presentation of Meanjin Editions 68.3 and 68.4 print editions, plus digital back issues via the Meanjin Website, July 2009-June 2010.  

Overload Poetry Inc (Fitzroy North): $5,000
Presentation of the 2009 Overload Poetry Festival, spanning ten days and showcasing a broad range of poetry.  

Seventh Gallery Inc (Fitzroy): $10,000
Presentation of a 12 month curated program of 16 exhibitions at Seventh Gallery, Fitzroy July 2009-June 2010.  

The Store Room (North Fitzroy): $19,000
Presentation of a program of new theatre works by independent theatre makers with the aim to re-establish The Store Room as a hub for independent theatre.  

What Is Music (Brunswick): $10,000
Presentation of the 12th What is Music? festival of experimental music, involving artists Anthony Pateras, Natasha Anderson, Marco Fusinato, Oren Ambarchi, Robin Fox and others, taking place across Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, 16-20 December 2009.