Accomplished artist Brittany March is shaping a new direction in sculpture, with a little momentum from a Surf Coast Shire Council creative grants program.
Brittany is one of nine individual and group grant recipients through Council's annual DEVELOP program which supports emerging, mid-career and established creatives to explore new horizons.
Individuals can receive $3,000 and groups $5,000.
Brittany's creative practice focuses primarily on fine art, drawing inspiration from the natural world for hyper-realistic drawings and paintings. She is also skilled in graphic design and illustration, leads workshops and tutors.
Now her DEVELOP project is taking her into personally unexplored territory working with clay, silicone and fibreglass to create a prototype sculpture of a southern right whale, measuring up to a metre in length.
The DEVELOP grant is enabling the project and supporting mentoring for Brittany from acclaimed Surf Coast sculptor Mark Trinham.
She will also receive training in fibreglass casting at a Torquay surfboard factory.
"This project will deepen my creative practice by developing skills needed to transition into public sculpture," Brittany says.
"The subject of the work is inspired by the Surf Coast's rich marine environment and the iconic migration of the southern right whale. I have always loved wildlife, and creating artwork which honours the natural world.
"As a surfer as well going into the ocean most days you naturally have a connection with nature and wild places I guess, and I think it's nice that the project involves the surf industry. Obviously Torquay was kind of born from the surf industry, so it's a nice little nod."
DEVELOP 2025 recipients represent a wide spectrum of pursuits.
Recipients are:
- Brittany March: Developing public art and large-scale sculpture skills, with supporting mentorship, through creation of a fibreglass whale prototype.
- Michelle Buggy: Abstract ie. Developing an online creative arts experience featuring daily videos, and interviews with local and visiting artists.
- Erin Reinboth: Dream Big Studios. Creating a space connecting young people with artists and industry professionals through workshops, mentoring and exhibitions.
- Ruth Blackhirst: Il Vetro Lorne. Purchasing of a larger kiln to help expand sustainable functional art production with recycled materials, and support workshops.
- Andrea Shaw: Exploring textile painting on repurposed fabrics to integrate sustainability and encourage conversations about textile waste.
- Writhe: The Chrysalis Project. Researching performing arts groups to assess capacity-building needs in Surf Coast Shire.
- Dr Lucy O'Grady: Light and Shade. Recording, mixing and mastering a solo album of neo-classical piano, electronica and voice for release in 2025.
- Lachlan Hurrell: Creating music and learning culture on Yolngu Country – a collaboration with Yolngu artist Yirrmal deepening understanding of First Nations culture and developing songwriting skills.
- Jules Robinson: Broaden and Deepen. Supporting mentorship, skill development and creation of a new artwork for exhibition.
Councillor Leon Walker congratulated all recipients.
"The DEVELOP program is all about enabling artists to advance their careers and portfolios by exploring new directions or realising long-held concepts," Cr Walker said.
"We commend each of this year's recipients on their vision and willingness to further challenge themselves, and we look forward to seeing their inspiring projects flourish."
Brittany said she was surprised and delighted to be named among recipients. She had never applied for a grant before but felt rewarded for the work she put into her submission.
Her advice for aspiring DEVELOP applicants is to prepare with care, focus and commitment.
"Take your time with your application and thoroughly plan how you are going to do your project. I think that was really helpful for me," she says.
