Released 12/07/2021
Canberra’s arts industry will be given a boost through the Creative Recovery and Resilience Program, which will support the ACT arts industry to recover from the effects of COVID-19, build capability within the sector and create jobs.
Minister for the Arts Tara Cheyne said the Creative Recovery and Resilience Program, with more than $700,000 in funding, will focus on employment and economic stimulus for Canberra’s creative sector.
A number of different initiatives will be delivered under the program over the next 12 months to empower the arts industry to recover and respond to the emergent opportunities created by COVID.
“The arts are an essential part of our lives and contribute immensely to the economic, cultural and societal value of our community,” said Minister Cheyne.
“COVID has had a significant impact on our arts industry. Artists have not only lost income and opportunities, they also continue to experience ongoing pressures due to travel restrictions and capacity limits in venues.
“The Creative Recovery and Resilience Program will create more than 80 job opportunities for artists and arts professionals, as well as invest in the growth of local sector capability through partnership with organisations delivering projects on behalf of artsACT.
“The program will deliver a number of initiatives to help our arts industry recover and build resilience.”
Initiatives that will be delivered under the Creative Recovery and Resilience Program include:
- Creative Recovery and Resilience Forum with University of Canberra: There is a strong need in the local arts sector to connect and share skills and experiences. The forum will connect across disciplines, career stages and contexts to contribute to the ongoing growth of a well networked, more resilient sector.
- Residencies with University of Canberra and Ainslie + Gorman Arts Centres: Eight residencies will be offered, giving artists the opportunity to spend focused time developing their practice, offering valuable space and time to develop new ideas and directions across four diverse settings including digital technology and community cultural development
- City Commissions with Contour 556: Three new works will be commissioned from local artists to explore the identity and diversity of the city. Artists will identify a community group or organisation they wish to work with to create a new work, and the resulting work will be owned by the community organisation.
- Communicating the Arts Project with Paper Giant: A six-month program that will connect up to ten artists with marketing and communications professionals to share knowledge and skills.
- Art in Place with You Are Here: A streamlined grants program to support small live events to take place in venues and businesses across the ACT.
artsACT will also deliver the ACT Government Creative-in-Residence Project; an opportunity for two local artists to come into the ACT Government and provide new perspectives and explore how their creative skills can foster innovation and new approaches within government. The residents will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Creative Recovery and Resilience Forum, City Commissions, and Art in Place are joint initiatives of the ACT Government and Regional Arts Australia. These projects are supported by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund Recovery Boost, which is a $10 million targeted measure announced by the Australian Government in April 2020 as part of the COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund.
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cites and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the program would support sustainable economic, social and cultural development throughout the ACT.
“Our investment of more than $98,000 towards the ACT’s Creative Recovery and Resilience Program will support local artists and arts workers to establish new work and provide opportunities for collaboration in the sector.”
For more information go to www.arts.act.gov.au/funding/creative-recovery-and-resilience-program.
- Statement ends -
| Tara Cheyne, MLA | Media Releases