Small grants support

FOUR projects taking in theatre, design, music and animation are at various stages of completion after receiving grants of $2000 each as part of the 2025 City of Greater Bendigo Create Lab small grants program.

The projects include the development of a solo version of Macbeth by actor and theatre maker Kody Austin, involving one performer and a “bucket of fake blood.”

A stop motion animation based on an original script and intricate set pieces manipulated and captured frame by frame by animator Zak Westcott was funded as well.

Additionally, Gemma Fitzgerald received a grant to produce a series of show posters with original designs in conjunction with the Bendigo Pride Festival.

To round things off, musician Mannix Harrington was given funding to produce a video clip for a new single for his band Sugargum.

City creative industries officer Mandy Field said the focus of the funding was to encourage participating artists to experiment with ideas, plus develop their skills and capacity to work creatively.

“(It’s) been wonderful to support these innovative ideas from emerging artists who are exploring their unique ways of making and working creatively,” she said.

“Artists met with their mentors over a six-week period to gain insight into creative possibilities, (and) explore new and different ways of working and methodologies.

“Participating artists had time to develop ideas, receive feedback and advice, get their project documented and present their works in progress – all important stages in the creative process.”

The mentors for this year’s program are Christian Leavesley, Arena Theatre Company’s artistic director; visual artist and educator Kain White; musician and Bendigo Records proprietor Sam Edmonds; and Em Ireland, Bendigo PRIDE Festival director.