Over $100,000 funding boost for Ipswich artists
17 March 2023
A mentorship to showcase local talent at the SPARK Ipswich festival, new monthly live music events and a celebration of the Woollen Mills are among six recipients from round one of the 2022-2023 Arts Queensland and Ipswich City Council Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF).
Community, Culture, Arts and Sports Committee Chairperson Councillor Andrew Fechner celebrated the innovative and unique approaches of the six recipients.
“Through this RADF funding round, an exciting and diverse range of talented artists and performers will receive support that directly assists their artistic development, endeavours and opportunities,” Cr Fechner said.
“Arts and culture are key to creating a vibrant, diverse and liveable Ipswich and we can’t wait to see what these six RADF grant recipients will produce and achieve.”
A record total of $106,347 in funding was allocated to the following recipients.
- InHabited Ipswich: $11,135 towards mentoring and paying four local artists who will create new media artworks to be shown at SPARK Ipswich 2023.
- Banshees Bar: $15,000 towards organising monthly live music events to showcase diverse local artists and offer live recordings to assist in building their portfolios. This is the first of three years of seed funding for the project.
- Eva Fritz: $33,881 towards creating an interactive and educative installation at the Queens Park Environmental Education Centre based on her own children’s book ‘Little Things Big Things’, which touches on topics such as the environment, sustainability and community wellbeing.
- Robin ‘Tallman’ Wakkajinda: $11,331 towards hosting a social exhibition, talks and guided tours of Bell Street, discussing local street art and stories from his time as a volunteer.
- THAT Production Company: $20,000 towards producing a show for Queensland Mental Health Week, giving Ipswich actors an opportunity to perform in ‘Every Brilliant Thing’ at the Metro Arts theatre in West End.
- VisionDesign: $15,000 towards creating Ipswich Threads, a project to celebrate the state heritage-listed site of the former Queensland Woollen Manufacturing Company, the largest employer of women in Ipswich for many years. The project will occur over three years and will feature a series of textile art workshops, an exhibition, heritage interpretation and an online feature on Picture Ipswich.
Cr Fechner also recognised the volunteers who make up Ipswich’s RADF committee.
“RADF is a fantastic program made possible by the support of the committee members who spend their own time engaging with the community and reviewing applications,” he said.
The members are Larissa Melanie (Visual Arts, Crafts and Design, Music, Community Arts and Cultural Development and Project Management), Ben Thomas (Visual Arts and Music), Magenta Quinn (Visual Arts, Craft and Design and Community Arts), Olesya Petkov (Gallery Libraries Archives and Museums and a practicing artist) and Donna Cavanagh (Visual Arts and Crafts and Design).
Previous recipients are from a diverse range of arts and have offered cultural experiences and community art projects over the years, including professional development, art exhibitions, film script development, performance, mentorships, theatre plays and community building arts programs.
Cr Fechner said applications for round two open on 2 June 2023 for projects commencing September.
“Those interested in applying are encouraged to read the guidelines and contact council’s Creative Industries Development team at creative.industries@ipswich.qld.gov.au for further information.”
RADF is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Ipswich City Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
For more information visit Ipswich.qld.gov.au/services/funding-and-support