City of Darwin is pleased to have awarded $50,000 in funding to local community groups to assist them with capacity-building projects, activities or events.
The Community Grants Program supports a variety of projects and organisations throughout the municipality.
City of Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said he was pleased to see a number of organisations supported through the grants.
"Each year we allocate $100,000 over two rounds to support community organisations carrying out capacity building projects, activities or events," Mr Vatskalis said.
"We aim to assist projects that contribute to reconciliation, forge partnerships between community groups and encourage engagement and leadership by underrepresented populations.
"This year we also provided an additional $50,000 to support Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week activities that honour Larrakia or other First Nations' achievements or history.
"The Community Grants will see Corrugated Iron Youth Arts Inc hold a Futures Collide Festival, as well as Darwin Community Arts creating immersive performances for people with neurodiversity and disability.
"The Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week activities being supported include Enterprise Learning Projects holding an Impact North Reconciliation Week change maker event.
"We are pleased to be able to support projects that are making a difference in our community and helping to build a more inclusive and vibrant Darwin," he said.
The community projects taking place through the grants program include:
- YWCA Australia - will run barista training workshops for young mothers participating in Connected Families and Young Mums Strong Mums programs.
- Alliance Francaise de Darwin Incorporated - will hold French Rhyme Time and Playgroup sessions, offering French language education through song, reading and play for babies, children and their parents.
- Corrugated Iron Youth Arts Inc - will hold a Futures Collide Festival including workshops, a parade and a 40th birthday celebration for children, young people and emerging and early career artists.
- Multicultural Seniors Social Club - will hold a multicultural seniors evening, where people from different community organisations can share in understanding each other's culture through performances, singing, dancing, fashion shows, food and music.
- Multicultural Multigenerational Mainstream Dance Association Inc. - will hold an Afrobeats Dance Festival, providing opportunities for people of African backgrounds to learn, practice and perform their dances. The sessions will assist by connecting participants with dance-leaders and providing them with safe spaces, equipment, supervision and administrative services.
- Darwin Community Arts - will hold a series of workshops creating interactive, multi-sensory, immersive performances made by and for people with neurodiversity and disability, including children and families.
- Jocelyn Tribe, through Project Wanga, will create a podcast featuring four 45-minute episodes, led by First Nations artists who will interview artists from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week activities taking place through the grants program include:
- Enterprise Learning Projects hosted an Impact North change maker event during Reconciliation Week.
- Mayala-Bol held a community engagement program during NAIDOC Week, celebrating Blak history, resilience and joy at Browns Mart.
- Shaun Francis constructed a mural during NAIDOC Week at the Wanderers Football Club celebrating dual Nichols medallist Ted Cooper.
- Ironbark Aboriginal Corporation held a NAIDOC Week event with Berrimah businesses.
Community grants activities will take place between 1 July and 31 December 2024.
The next round of Community Grants will open in September 2024.
The next round of Reconciliation and NAIDOC Week Grants will open in early 2025.
