Grants on offer to help creatives start their engine

GEELONG Arts Centre is ramping up its support for local artists with a new grant under the Creative Engine initiative.

Totalling $12,000 in financial grants and more than $30,000 in value-in-kind studio access, the new grants round will focus on supporting positive risk-taking among “homegrown creatives”.

The six available grants will benefit the individuals and organisations looking to develop unique and exciting work or advance their practice.

The Creative Engine program first launched in October 2019 and was designed to support the arts centre’s long-term vision to build sustainable practices across regional Victoria with regular grant rounds.

Under the vision, the program endeavours to become, “The Creative Heart of Geelong: an artery between creative industries and community to global thinking and extraordinary experiences.”

Geelong Arts Centre chief executive officer and creative director Joel McGuinness said along with grants and support initiatives, the program will provide access to workshops, masterclasses and networking opportunities.

“Our aim for these grants is to assist a diverse range of artists and creatives to build sustainable and dynamic practice right here in Geelong,” he said.

“We believe wholeheartedly that local practitioners are vital to a clever and creative future for our region and that arts and culture have an important role to play in the wellbeing of our community.”

Geelong Arts Centre senior producer Penny McCabe said the initiative would create a boost for regional artists with strong ties to the region following a particularly challenging year.

“We’re always thrilled to be able to announce new funding opportunities for our arts community, but after the year that was, it feels particularly poignant to be able to invest in exciting new works and support some truly innovative artists,” she said.

Blink Dance artistic director Lyndel Quick said she was grateful to be a past grant recipient under the Creative Engine program.

“In practical terms, it has enabled access to world-class rehearsal and performance spaces and specialist equipment, however the real highlight has been the full commitment of the Geelong Arts Centre team, to work with us as partners, to support and nurture artistic conversations and ideas,” she said.

“To value the contribution of local artists they are enriching the creative ecology.”

The program has also supported local creatives including performing arts entity Bravo Arts and Gunditjmara theatre-maker Tom Molyneux.

Under the new grant the arts centre will allocate two $5,000 payments under the ‘Ignition’ grant designed to get projects ready for presentation while two contributions of $1,000 will be made under the ‘Jump Start’ grant to explore creative ideas.

The Geelong Arts Centre will further provide two winners with a ‘Place To Make’ grant offering spaces to be used for workshops, concept development or networking. Grant applications will open from 9 am on June 28 and will close at 5 pm on July 25. Successful projects will be notified on August 26.

To find out more head to the Geelong Arts Centre website.