Boost for community arts (Media release)

Seven projects have shared $50,000 as part of Council’s new Arts Activation Grants.

An indigenous harvest gathering, a Russian street festival and a new theatre work are among the recipients of the grants, which funded big and small community-led ideas to help engage the community with the arts.

The Merri Murnong group received an $8,000 grant for this year (to be followed by $6,000 next year and $4,000 the following year) for their Murnong Gathering, to be held on 11 November.

The community event centres around a harvest of the murnong plant and cooking and sharing the white tubers, and dancing, stories and a community arts project.

Committee member Richard Healey thanked Council for providing the grant.

“It’s confirmation that this is really important,” Mr Healey said.

“It’s an opportunity to connect with the Wurundjeri and have the community come together and celebrate what is a traditional harvest for the First Nations people, and we really treasure that.”

Other recipients included Janet Watson Kruse – who received $8,000 to produce a new theatre work at Coburg RSL – Tongberang’i Ngarrga Inc – who received $8,000 for a celebration of contemporary Aboriginal urban culture, identity and connection to country – and Babysteps – who received $8,000 for the Dead End Film Festival at Coburg Drive-In.

Melbourne Artists for Asylum Seekers also received $7,788 for a five-month community arts project targeting 50 migrant women in Merri-bek, the Russian Orthodox Church Holy Protection Cathedral received $8000 for a Russian/Slavic festival with music, dance, arts and craft and the Lions Club of Glenroy received $2,212 for their art show, which will display works from primary, secondary and special-needs schools.

Moreland City Council offers a range of free support and opportunities for artists, including the Making it in Merri-bek professional development series, which kicks off in November.

Find out more at Making it in Merri-bek.

27 August 2018