Northern Territory artists supported through Arts Projects grants

A $300,000 Northern Territory Government grant will support artists and arts workers to further their career paths, build professional networks and partnerships, grow audiences, and contribute to building vibrant and engaged communities.

The funding delivered through the 2021-22 NT Arts and Culture Grants Program, Arts Projects Round One supports comedy, cross-art form (multi arts), dance, literature and writing, music, theatre and visual arts and  crafts projects.

20 arts projects are being supported with grants of up to $20,000 for established artists, and up to $15,000 for emerging artists (within the first five years of professional practice), awarded towards Arts Projects that:

• increase development of NT arts and culture, including new works by NT artists;

• increase showcasing and promotion for NT artists;

• increase opportunities to develop skills for NT artists and/or increase community access and participation in arts and culture, and build digital capability; and

• increase employment of NT artists and arts workers.

Northern Territory Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Chansey Paech notes “this investment leverages additional funds into the economy and prioritises funding to NT artists and arts workers to help grow the NT community and the development of the arts and creative sector.

“The funded arts activities will increase access to and participation in the arts, contribute to the Territory’s cultural identity, and provide memorable experiences and vibrant communities for tourists and Territorians.”

Arts Projects this year include an additional $100,000 per round to support projects that build digital capability and support the arts sector recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

First-time applicant to the NT Arts and Culture Grants Program, comedian Richard Fejo, was awarded $12,944 towards Deadly Darwin Goes Walkabout, an emerging artist initiative for four Aboriginal comedians to develop performance skills through touring, inspire new comedians through workshops, and mentor Richard Fejo in tour coordination and production.

Tennant Creek based artist Sally Balfour received $8,604 for Sally Balfour EP Recording to record her debut EP in Alice Springs at Sing Hum Studio with producer Dave Crowe, employing local musicians and gaining professional development in the recording process.

Emerging curator Carmen Ansaldo has been granted $14,000 for Retribution: What happens next - Exhibition Development, an exhibition of six NT artists working across painting, photography, mixed media installation, projection and more, each lending their unique interpretation to the title theme.

Ceramicist Melanie Robson was awarded $14,716 for National Library of Australia Residency and New Work Development to undertake a residency at the National Library of Australia and Namadgi National Park in the ACT to research and develop a new body of ceramic work exploring ideas of place and territory.

Other recipients are:

• Carly Bancroft, Jarradah Gooragulli - Dance of the Brolgas - $20,000;

• Guts Dance Central Australia, Sub Creative Development - $19,348;

• Alexandra Jordan, Yolngu Miyalk - $17,940;

• Gary Lang NT Dance Company, Dancing Across the Country - $20,000;

• Therese Ritchie, National tour of You Are Here exhibition - $13,519;

• Alex Richmond, On Being Lotus and Crow - $13,120;

• Gong Wanhurr Aboriginal Corporation, Miny’tji Immersive Mapping - $19,950;

• Arafura Music Collective, Arafura Music Collective Chamber Music Series 2022 - $15,000;

• David James Garnham, Stuart Highway Writing and Recording Sessions - $20,000;

• Alice Cotton, Alice Cotton Self-Titled Debut EP - $14,982;

• Sandra Thibodeaux, Live Streaming Performance of Calls to 1194 - $10,000;

• Sarah Reuben, The Hypotheticals NT Tour - $16,019;

• Numburindi Corporation, Dhudhurgi - $16,892;

• Gretel Bull, Persephone’s Urn - $10,550;

• Liss Fenwick, Back Out - $6500; and

• Stephanie Martin, Darwin Exhibition of Karrabing Film Collective’s The Mermaids: Mirror Worlds - $15,916.

Image: Arafura Music Collective