The arts are set to flourish on the Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island, with local projects scoring five regional arts grants from the federal government.

The Regional Arts Fund awarded more than $668,000 to 46 projects across five states, including 16 in South Australia.

Successful projects span the visual arts, dance, music and digital media. 

Ngarrindjeri/Ramindjeri/Narungga artist Cedric Varcoe will be involved in two projects, one on Kangaroo Island and one in Victor Harbor.

The Art Museum of Kangaroo Island Establishment Association in Penneshaw
was awarded $11,676
 for Culture for Recovery.

Cedric will connect and create with the bushfire-affected community, using creative expression as a crucial tool for healing and community rebuilding, whilst also promoting Cedric's art practice as a traditional weaver and painter. 

The project will deliver two powerful collaborative art works with the community as a lasting legacy of its strength and resilience. 

Cedric will also work with mosaic artist Mike Tye and the Victor Harbor community groups to create a large scale, high-quality mosaic artwork on the Bay Road Bridge.

This piece will explore the Ngarrindjeri and Ramindjeri connection to the Inman river—Muwerang, via a $25,000 grant to the City of Victor Harbor.

It will encourage community participation in a collaborative cultural activity that will deepen awareness of its traditional landowner’s connections to Country. 

The Festival Fleurieu Association gained a grant of $3,830 for Youth-Scape 2021—Scoping the Scape. The project will offer young people in the District Council of Yankalilla an opportunity to participate in, and create work for, the 2021 Festival Fleurieu. 

Artist Chelsea Nicholls will work with local schools, youth groups, young emerging artists and established artists to investigate to develop a series of youth arts project briefs. 

A grant of $14,446 went to Alexandrina Council for Alex Youth Theatre Skills Development. The Goolwa theatre group will provide young people with the opportunity to learn from industry professionals from a range of disciplines, to develop new skills and create future pathways in the performing arts. 

Strathalbyn visual artist Jacob Logos received $9,700 to lead an innovative project in a multi-artform collaboration with award- winning choreographer and artistic director Kyle Page and 3D volumetric science team Voxon Photonics, as they explore the potential of holographic technology for art performance. 

The Hon Paul Fletcher MP, Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, congratulated the successful recipients of the community grants program.

“I am pleased to see the recipients reflect Australia’s rich and diverse arts sector, with projects to be delivered by a wide range of community groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, youth, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, older Australians and people with disability.

“The funding will help these organisations and individuals develop new works and performances, and create opportunities to engage local communities.”

The Regional Arts Fund network will work with organisations receiving funding on the timing and delivery of these activities in line with any current COVID-19 requirements.

Image by Jonathan Singer from Pixabay