City Grants to re-engage Canberrans with arts, poetry and dance


Released 28/08/2020

Arts, dance and poetry, street art performance and a kinetic sculpture race are just some of the City Grants activities that will be held in the city’s public spaces over the next 12 months.

The City Renewal Authority has awarded $240,000 to 11 successful grant applications for activities across Civic, Braddon and New Acton.

Chief executive officer Malcolm Snow said the Authority had received 61 applications in response to its challenge to invite activities that would help re-engage Canberrans with the city centre and each other during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. All activities will be held in compliance with the ACT’s Health Directions.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the way we live our lives, including how we use public space,” Mr Snow said.

“We challenged grants applicants to use innovative thinking to help us achieve important placemaking outcomes for our city over this period.

“Our successful applicants have not only shown how they can make the city more colourful, interesting and attractive for people to visit and spend time in, but also how they can contribute to the social and sustainable development of our city’s public places in this new environment.

“They have demonstrated an ability to be flexible and adaptable to change in their planning and implementation of their projects during these uncertain times.

“From bigger established festivals and new, innovative projects to smaller events and activities, there is something for everyone.”

The seven successful Tier 1 applications (up to $10,000 each) consisted of a series of yoga, music and beer events; a moving pedal powered cockatoo sculpture; a poetry fringe festival; a public art treasure hunt; a Braddon community composter; a hip-hop street dance festival; and another instalment of Shakespeare By The Lakes.

The four successful Tier 2 applications (up to $50,000 each) were the Contour 556 sculpture festival; the You Are Here festival; Kinetic Sculpture Race; and the Together Alone stencil street art performance project.

“Cities need consistent activity to make them successful, from smaller everyday activities to larger one-off events,” Mr Snow said.

“People need to know that when they come into the city centre there’s something happening.

“City Grants are just one of the ways that we can make that happen, but they are a really important way of attracting unique, interesting and diverse activities that otherwise might not have taken place.”

City Grants are funded by the City Centre Marketing and Improvements Levy.

Grants funded activity is to be delivered through to 30 June 2021.

For more information on City Grants visit cityrenewalcbr.com.au

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