Flourish Arts Recovery Grants Program

The 2020 FLOURISH: Arts Recovery Grant was a highly competitive round with 145 eligible applications being received. Requests totalled over $976,850.00. As a result, council approved an additional $110,000 in funding to provide a total budget pool of approximately $216,000.

We would like to congratulate the following local artists and arts organisation in receiving 2020 Flourish Arts Recovery Grants.

Alana Holmberg: Porch Diaries (Exhibition)
Blakademy - Blak Dot Gallery: Around the Fire (Blakademy Public Program 2020-2021)
Bunk Puppets: Organisational Funding - Company diversification and core planning
Dylan Martorell: Sonaflora Field Guide (Interactive Experience)
Eddie Botha Creations: Fawkner Bowls Club Community Mural
Fleur Murphy: Research and development of a new play script, The Fence
GalleryGalleryInc: Inside Out Projection Window (Exhibition)
Jade Imagine: Recoding of their second album
James Ruse: Untitled short film project
Jazzlab: Jazzlab Digital Corona Sessions (Pilot program)
Joel Ma: Development of Joelistics Presents Film School into a live performance and short film
June Lamb: Creation of Video clip for Home, the 3rd single off June Jones' upcoming album release
Kate Lefoe: Development of an online LGBTIQ community for Wicked Women web series
Lemony S Puppet Theatre: Open design process & puppetry workshops
Melbourne Minute: Melbourne lo-fi hip hop radio
Melbourne Sound School: Sound School - Watch and Learn Program
Merlo Art Collective: People on the Streets (Exhibition)
Milk Records Pty Ltd: Organisational Funding - Supporting Merri-bek based recording artists at Milk Records
Nicola Castle: The Alt-Right Addiction (Film)
NOIR Darkroom: Organisational Funding - Supporting Exhibiting Merri-bek Artists at NOIR
Norm Warehouse: Organisational Funding - Supporting Merri-bek Artists at NORM Warehouse
Pink Ember Studio: Pink Ember Workshops Series
Riot Stage: Everyone Is Famous (short film)
Roosevelt Street Studios Inc: Organisational Funding - Supporting Merri-bek Artists at Roosevelt Street Studios
Simon Aubor: Moreland: 23/03/2020 to xx/xx/xxxx (Photographic project)
Stephanie Lake Company: Creation of new work, Manifesto (Dance)
TCB Art Inc: Mulana - First Nations Residency Programme
The Listies: SMELLOVISION! Filmclips for forthcoming comedy album for children
The Wandering Room: 2021 Solo Exhibition Program
Varuni Kanagasundaram: Messages That Link Us (Kolam Ritual Drawing)

The Moreland City Council Plan 2017 - 2021 and the Arts and Culture Strategy 2017 - 2022 both aim to 'strengthen and invest in the significant creative sector in Merri-bek and enhance its standing as a destination for the arts'. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the Australian arts and culture sector, with local artists and arts organisations reporting considerable financial hardship due to event cancellations and loss of income. Merri-bek City Council recognises the challenges the sector is currently facing and established the Flourish: Arts Recovery Grants as a once-off grant program to support the local sector during this crisis. These grants were designed to help the arts and culture sector of Merri-bek flourish.

Objectives:

• To support local artists and arts organisations to survive the impacts of COVID-19
• To strengthen the capacity of local artists and arts organisations to develop and deliver quality recovery projects for the wider community
• To support the local arts ecology in navigating new models of engagement
• To build connection and engagement through community led arts and cultural activities
• To support and encourage more people to engage with arts and culture in Merri-bek

Grant Categories:

• Individual Artists (Up to $5,000) - for individuals, sole traders and freelancers
• Arts Organisations (up to $10,000) - for collectives, ensembles and not-for-profit businesses