Blacktown City Council announces 2021 Creative Arts Fund recipients

Blacktown City Council has announced $42,000 in grants awarded to local artists and community organisations for the 2021 Creative Arts Fund. Examples of some of the successful projects include:

• a documentary about Covid-19
• a new cabaret performance
• an art and literacy video series for school students
• visual arts in response to domestic violence
• a podcast aimed at women in western Sydney
• and the development of a new screenplay.

In announcing the 19 recipients, Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM said, “The Creative Arts Fund is a wonderful, inclusive local initiative that supports opportunities for artists and creatives in our City.”

“The applications this year were of extremely high calibre, and the projects range from celebrating diversity to addressing prominent social issues confronting our community. Culture and the arts have a profound role in highlighting social issues and strengthening community reach. A fantastic way for artists to gain professional development whilst working collaboratively with other local community organisations.”

“I am proud that this is the sixth year that Council has run the Creative Arts Fund program and I congratulate the 19 organisations and individuals on their awards. I look forward to enjoying the many projects that will be created.”

Awarded in two categories, the grants reveal local innovations and creative practices that are not seen elsewhere and are unique to our region. Individuals receive up to $2,000 and organisations up to $3,000. The recipients change every year and ensure new ideas, projects and people are continuously supported.

Manager Arts and Cultural Development, Alicia Talbot said, “Blacktown City is an amazing place, full of inspiration. The Creative Arts Fund champion our artists, cultural workers and creative communities. Blacktown Arts is thrilled to support creativity throughout the city with these grants.”

“The Blacktown City Creative Arts Fund (CAF) is a council grants program supporting local artists and community organisations to develop and deliver new artistic ideas and programs in the region. The program fosters new, independent arts and cultural initiatives across the City and encourages creative expression in Blacktown City through a range of arts and cultural activities.”

Grants of up to $3,000 have been awarded to the following community organisations:

Barnier Public School P & C Association  (Quakers Hill) – Artist fees for the installation of the first stage of murals in the bathrooms at Barnier Public School.

Australian Traditional Asian Culture Group (Seven Hills) – Chinese ink-drawing workshops with artists Songshi Li and Dan Chen and the development of a final exhibition.

Shalvey Community Centre (Shalvey) – Artist fees and venue hire for a Holiday Intensive Dance Workshop with young people at Shalvey Community Centre.

Grants of up to $2,000 have been awarded to the following individuals and artist groups:

Holly Oakley of Woodcroft – An exhibition on domestic violence and the printing of the artworks for local domestic violence counsellors.

Emie Roy of Quakers Hill – Development and production support of a short documentary on the Covid-19 pandemic and 2020 lockdown.

Aileenette Almazan-Appleby of Blacktown – Artist fees for the production and development of an art and literacy video series for primary and early secondary school students.

Natalie Oliver of Doonside – Professional development fees and venue hire for the arrangement of a new cabaret performance in collaboration with other performers.

Yasmin Arkinstall of Lalor Park – Professional development in opera and funds to work with a mentor composer for the development of an autobiographical opera about the artist’s experience with mental illness.

Laura Ranola of Doonside – Production of a new limited podcast series aimed at young women from Blacktown and western Sydney

Dave Hammond of Bidwill – Development and marketing costs of an online craft store in jewellery.

Stan Florek of Blacktown – Creation of ten to fifteen paintings that represent the migrant experience in Blacktown.

Juda Xavier Osbual of Woodcroft)– Professional development and artist fees to support the development of a series of visual dance films.

Suhandi Kosasih of Seven Hills – Artist fees and venue hire for new music jam sessions in Blacktown.

Richard Jackson of Lalor Park – Creation of ten autobiographical paintings that reflect the artist’s life.

Vonne Patiag of Minchinbury – Development of the first full draft screenplay for the feature length film production of TOMGIRL.

Agal Dance Company of Blacktown – Production of a film on a dance performance responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Raneen Shamon of Mount Druitt – Creation of art works with students for an art exhibition at the Evans English Intensive Learning Centre.

Ctace Palasin of Blacktown – Development of two playscripts ‘Oh Wife Escape Me Not’ and ‘Eva’.

Rebecca Catford of Seven Hills – Mixed media sculpture that reflects the impact of domestic violence on survivors.