Media Release
Quick support for 8 new projects
26 February 2007

Exhibition of Caldera Shields by artist and
Quick grant recipient, Sharon Muir.
EIGHT new projects
have already got the go-ahead this year with funding from the Regional Arts NSW
Quick Turnaround Grants program. The list includes work in a diverse range of
artforms: dance, music, theatre, circus, literature and craft, with projects spread
across seven different regions.
The Quick Turnaround Grants program provides assistance for regional
NSW artists, arts organisations and communities to take advantage of professional
development opportunities that present themselves at short notice. The funds are
provided through the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund which is administered
by Regional Arts NSW in New South Wales.
Demand for the Regional Arts NSW Quick Turnaround Grants program continues
to be strong, with the funds for the first quarter of 2007 allocated in just two
months.
The total figure of $9,600 is more than 'normal' quarterly allocation, with
some 'carry over' funding used to cover worthwhile projects that were all received
on the same day.
The first 'Quicks' for 2007 are ...
- $1500 to Louise Marne (Far West) to attend six days of basket weaving
workshops, demonstrations, displays and exchange of ideas, as part of WOMADelaide.
Louise is one of five Aboriginal fibre artists selected from across Australia
to participate in the Tjanpi Desert Weavers Project linking traditional and contemporary
fibre artists.
- $1,100 to the Gloucester Youth Service (Upper Hunter) to conduct funk
tap, hip hop and body percussion workshops for young people with visiting Queensland
dance company Raw Dance.
- $1,500 to Northern Rivers Writers Centre (Northern Rivers) for the director
to attend 'Words and Ideas' Writers Week at the Perth International Arts Festival.
This professional development opportunity will be invaluable to the new director
in her new role as well as developing fresh ideas and innovative approaches to
the Byron Bay Writers Festival.
- $1,200 to Independent Producers (Albury Wodonga) for the mentorship
of two actors involved in Hothouse Theatre's 'Month in the Country' program by
Indigenous writer, Jane Harrison. A cross-cultural theatrical work with Indigenous
themes will be developed and a workshop and public reading held for the local
indigenous and non-indigenous communities.
- $1,000 to Deniliquin Arts Council (South West) to run a series of contemporary
dance workshops in Deniliquin with visiting dance company Raw Dance.
- $600 to Kempsey District Silver Band (Mid North Coast) to host a weekend
of school band workshops with visiting musical conductor, Martin Hardy, to develop
musical as well as performance skills.
- $1,200 to Sharon Muir (Northern Rivers) to attend a five day 'think
tank' in Queensland as part of an innovative regional project entitled 'Science
and Art:Time of Transition'. The project will bring together scientists, artists
and leaders in various sectors to address national ecological issues and culminate
in a group exhibition in early 2008.
- $1,500 to Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation (West Darling) for
an Indigenous trainee program leader to attend a circus festival and national
training project in Western Australia. The program will include a gathering of
all major indigenous youth circus groups from across Australia.
Congratulations to all the recipients.
Applications for 'Quicks' will re-open on 1 April 2007 for the April to June
2007 quarter.
More information on 'Quick's is provided in the Grants section of our website here.
The Regional Arts Fund
is an Australian Government initiative
supporting the arts in regional and remote Australia.
