We awarded $460,000 over 2 years to 9 organisations and 1 artist to provide dynamic and valuable arts activities in the City of Yarra through the Biennial Arts and Cultural funding streams Creative Yarra and Engage Yarra 2020-21.
Creative Yarra and Engage Yarra are amongst Victoria's leading local government grant programs. They fund activities of high cultural and artistic merit that demonstrate a strong link with Yarra's community. These grants are designed to provide security and reduce administration costs for recipients.
Yarra's Councillors endorsed the recipients at a recent council meeting. Funded organisations include un Projects, Centre for Contemporary Photography (CCP), Liquid Architecture, Play On Arts, Bus Projects, All the Queens Men, Schoolhouse Studios, Drummond Street Services, Jesuit Social Services and photographer Alister MC. The grants enable the extended development of creative activity over a two year period, support creative organisations and artists in building greater capacity, and deliver the best outcomes in our City.
Recipients Bus Projects and Liquid Architecture will contribute to Collingwood Arts Precinct (CAP) in 2020 as new tenants. Bus Projects are eliminating the fee-to-exhibit model while working with 140 artists over a 2 year period through their substantial exhibition program. Liquid Architecture have received funding for Polyphonic Social, a flagship event with outcomes at Abbotsford Convent and CAP.
Play On is a performing arts company that showcases Australia's most acclaimed young classical musicians alongside the country's best electronic artists. This funding supports key staff roles and a brand-new work which will be developed and premiered in Yarra in July 2020 and 2021.
This funding supports All the Queens Men continued delivery of LGBTI+ Elders Dance Club. This program is designed for LGBTI+ people (65 +) and their allies: 'It made many people who, in their day to day lives in our society feel or are made to feel marginalised, neglected, invisible, lonely - it made these people feel valued, important, beautiful and cared about. I cannot express strongly enough how valuable that is – it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about the value of LGBTI+ Elders Dance Club'. – LGBTI+ elder.
Yarra is proud to help fund these programs which support and enrich the Yarra community and promote the arts across Yarra.
