Regional Arts Development Fund recipients announced
Rockhampton Regional Council has announced the successful applicants for Round 3 of this year's Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF).
The successful applicants are: Midpoint Theatre, Rockhampton Symphony Orchestra, Derek J Lamb, Chelsea Morrigan, and Capricorn School of Dance.
These were selected by the Rockhampton RADF committee, made of local arts industry professionals, chaired by Rockhampton Region Deputy Mayor, Cr Drew Wickerson.
Funded Projects are:
Midpoint Theatre
$5893 towards the collection, script development and public presentation of four local migrant stories, exploring diverse experience of 'settling in' to a new country, community and culture.
Rockhampton Symphony Orchestra Inc.
$5000 towards contracting a professional consultant to conduct a two day workshop for RSO members, volunteers and community stakeholders. The workshop will focus on industry strategic planning to help make the orchestra more self-sustainable and increase its reach.
Derek J Lamb and Hanbing Lu
$4400 towards an exhibition of up to 20 new works in letterpress and water colour by Derek J Lamb and Hanbing Lu. The exhibition, which will be presented at Benevolent Living in The Long Gallery, the exhibition will examine the interrelationship between early Rockhampton and the influential Benevolent Society. It will investigate and highlight the direction of the society under a female committee, examining society, immigration, philanthropy, aged and child welfare and other issues of the time.
Chelsea Morrigan
$9600 towards development and construction of a Koto. A Koto is a Japanese plucked half-tube zither instrument. The Koto will be built to a performance standard from alternative materials. It will then be used in a performance in late 2024 at the Queensland Koto Society concert in Brisbane, and potentially at an exhibition at Rockhampton Museum of Art in 2025.
Capricorn School of Dance
$5000 for local Capricorn School of Dance students to attend a series of Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Examination Preparation Workshops, an opportunity which is typically more accessible in metropolitan areas. Workshops will be led by expert RAD syllabus tutors including experienced Royal Academy of Dancing (RAD) examiner Anna Veretennikova and former Queensland Ballet Company member Nicole Galea.
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the Queensland Government's successful, long-term partnership with local governments through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) supports the delivery of hundreds of arts experiences, employment opportunities and capacity building for arts and cultural workers across the state.
"As part of our ongoing commitment to strengthen local communities and drive economic outcomes through arts and culture, the Queensland Government has provided $2.184 million for RADF 2023-24 to 59 local councils who have contributed a co-investment of $1.979 million," Minister Enoch said.
"The Queensland Government's Creative Together 2020-2030 roadmap prioritises activation of Queensland's places and spaces and arts engagement that drives positive change for Queensland communities. Projects funded through RADF support communities to share stories and creativity, provide important pathways for learning and connection, and boost local creative economies and tourism."
Rockhampton Regional Council Communities and Heritage Portfolio spokesperson Cr Drew Wickerson congratulated the applicants.
"In this round of RADF the committee has funded a range of very different projects, "Cr Wickerson said.
"There is a theatrical production, a strategic planning workshop, an exhibition, the creation of a musical instrument and professional development for young local dancers.
"The rationale behind RADF is that it enables funding decisions to be made at a grass roots level. The committee has selected five projects that we feel are important to the local community.
"RADF is a great initiative that helps to develop our region's artists and provide them with opportunities that may not be available in regional communities," he said.
