SUSTAINING CREATIVE WORKERS GRANTS TO SUPPORT LOCAL CREATIVE RECOVERY

$49,400 in grants will support local creatives in Footscray to rebound, recover and explore new business opportunities as part of the first wave of the Victorian Government’s Sustaining Creative Workers initiative.

Member for Footscray Katie Hall MP 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.

  • Candace Lloyd will receive $5000 to install and upgrade her home studio to enable the creation of a second album;
  • CB Mako will receive $2500 to research, develop and write new work;
  • DJ JNETT will receive $5000 to collaborate and record with other Melbourne musicians to record a second EP;
  • Morwenna Schenck will receive $4400 to collaborate with Punctum Inc on the design and creation of a new artwork;
  • Rickie Linton Martin will receive $2500 to purchase art materials and develop marketing collateral and an online presence for the reopening of the exhibition “Three Rivers”;
  • Rollason Bowring Design will receive $10,000 to teach sustainable design practices online;
  • Tristan Lucas will receive $5000 to undertake skills development in digital sculpture and 3D printing;
  • Victoria University on behalf of Northlands Collective will receive $10,000 to enable the collective to develop a new cabaret work; and
  • Wrangler Studios will receive $5,000 to deliver a series of weekly livestream performances from Victorian artists from June to December 2020.

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 http://creative.vic.gov.au to see a full list of recipients.

Quotes attributable to Member for Footscray Katie Hall MP

“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.”