Northern Rivers projects share in $371,603 RAF Recovery Boost Funding
Seven organisations have been announced as successful recipients of the Australia Government’s Regional Arts Fund (RAF) Recovery Grants in NSW, each receiving a share in $371,603 to deliver arts projects across regional NSW.
Administered in NSW by Regional Arts NSW, The RAF Recovery Boost was established by the Australian Government as a one-off fund to help the mid-term recovery of the arts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regional Arts NSW CEO Elizabeth Rogers says the funding will provide organisations with the means to reignite meaningful arts and cultural activities and support the skill development of artists across their regions for now and into the future.
Spaghetti Circus Inc. have received funding towards the ‘Ringside Restart – Mullumbimby Circus Festival Artistic Program’. Ringside Restart is artistic recovery of the 2021 Mullumbimby Circus Festival, which will be a COVID-safe reactivation of the event after the cancellation of the 2020 Festival. The Regional Arts Fund will provide crucial support for local artists who were impacted by bushfires, drought and floods, by supporting three new commissions for local artists and an emerging artist residency program. New collaborations between independent circus companies and established local artists will be formed, as well as the creative recovery opportunities for the Spaghetti Circus Performance Troupe.
Jade Dewi has received funding towards SMOKE. This project involves the recovery and re-ignition of dance theatre work SMOKE. SMOKE is a work co‑authored by Jade Dewi and Kirk Page, which is in its early stages of development on Bundjalung Country, inspired by their cultural heritage and lineages. This dynamic collaboration of an Aboriginal/Torres Strait theatre creator and culturally and linguistically diverse dance artist and choreographer will create a work of contemporary and traditional significance. Coming out of isolation due to COVID-19, the creative team will grow and revive the project’s creative development through research, strategic planning, and deepening of connection to the community and subject matter.
Other recipients awarded RAF Recovery Funding across NSW include: Outback Arts: Living Arts & Culture – Unplugged, Cementa Inc.: Regional Artist Mentoring Program 2021, Country Music Association of Australia Inc.: AcademyX, Arcadian Creative Management: Gumbaynggirr Music Futures and The Wired Lab: The Church – Conversion and Commission.
