Creative Engine grants jumpstart new projects

The Geelong Arts Centre has announced the nine creative projects set to benefit from the second round of its innovative Creative Engine grants initiative.

The applicants will share in $86,000 of funding, consisting of cash and in-kind venue access within the arts centre’s landmark Ryrie Street building.

GAC chief executive officer and creative director, Joel McGuinness, said the funded projects spanned multiple artistic disciplines, including dance, magic, theatre and docu-film.

“We are proud to provide grants to a number of phenomenal local G21 artists, across a diverse array of disciplines,” he said.

“We take pride in being able to enable these artists with the space, guidance, and support to develop works that are unique and bold in concept.

“The beauty of Geelong Arts Centre’s Creative Engine grant program, is that not only will these brilliant creatives receive project-specific support, they now also join a community of likeminded artists who will undoubtedly mould and shape their project development and broader artistic practice.”

The grants are divided into three categories – Ignition, Place to Make and Jump Start.

Ignition grant recipient, writer and director Elias Jamieson Brown, will be supported to bring to his urban thriller, Rattus, to life.

“I’m super chuffed to be able to connect with a team of artists again and have the space and time to dream up a new play,” he said.

“It’s really very rare right now, for any performing arts centre to be able to offer its resources to artists like myself for our experimentation, and because of this, the Ignition grant feels particularly meaningful.”

Rattus is inspired by the Barwon Heads cancer cluster, and Elias plans to conduct interviews with local activists, and families whose lives have been affected by contamination.

Other grant recipients include:

• Bec Goring, Sounds of Olfactory – The themes of ‘Mindfulness, Chaos and Affluence’ will be explored by local visual and sound artists working across a range of mediums

• Perfect Pairing – An original collaboration between Attitude Dance Company and The Hot Chicken Project, by director/choreographer Xavier McGettigan and wine expert/presenter Laura Viva

• Roaring – A new immersive theatre experience that plunges its audience into 1920s Geelong. This development will be led by Geelong producer and actress, Libby Brockman, in collaboration with award-winning writer Fleur Murphy, seasoned director Rachel Baring, and local Geelong actors

• Magic Adventures by Dazzling Dan – An immersive, interactive magic experience

• A Decorated Place – A dance work by performer and choreographer Caroline Meaden that takes its cues from films featuring wandering women

• The Devil’s Grip – Created by writer/performer/producer Gavin Roach, the story investigates the murky mysteries that lurk beneath one of the region’s gruesome true crime stories – the triple murder of the Wettenhall family at the Stanbury Estate

• HELD – A first stage creative development for a new local dance theatre work made and performed by Helen Duncan and Zoee Marsh

• WORLDS WHERE LIFE MIGHT EXIST – Two women want to live, and a spacecraft is about to die. This project is presented by Christine Davey and Skin of Our Teeth Productions.

Round one of GAC’s Creative Engine provided over $69,000 through cash and in-kind contributions. The third round of grants is due to be announced early next year.

Discover more by visiting the Geelong Arts Centre website.