A military history website, a public art exhibition to be part of the next Jumpers and Jazz festival and next week’s Border District Eisteddfod in Stanthorpe will all receive a financial shot in the arm through the Regional Arts Development Fund.
The Southern Downs Regional Council approved the three Regional Arts Development Fund grant applications at its meeting on Wednesday 15 May.
Deputy Mayor Councillor Sheryl Windle said at the meeting that all applications had been well presented and particularly noted that Deborah Wheeler, who did the application for the military website, had done ‘a mountain of work on history, particularly the military side of it’ and referred to the books Ms Wheeler had published.
“I’m very pleased to see she is working on this project,” she said.
Referring to the Border District Eisteddfod, Cr Windle also mentioned the importance of supporting youth programs in the region, saying that mentoring or being actively involved in culture for youth was always a worthy cause.
The Border District Eisteddfod is a 10-day event encompassing music, dance and drama and the only one of its kind in the region. It is run entirely by volunteers and provides young rural competitors with an opportunity to present their artistic talents and receive evaluations from professionals in the field. The funding of nearly $7500 is about a quarter of the cost of presenting the event and will cover the cost of hiring and accommodating the professional adjudicators.
The creation of a Southern Downs military history website will receive just over $18,000 and the website will be a central place to keep many aspects of the region’s rich history, including the 19 footballers whose names appear in the Warwick Armature Rugby League honor board at Warwick Town Hall, 46 World War 1 soldiers and 43 World War 2 soldiers from the new Freestone honour boards and a link to the existing Kyoomba Sanatorium website with records of 750 soldiers,doctors and nurses.
The total project cost for the Southern Downs Military History website is expected to be $26,000.
The Warwick Art Gallery has planned six exhibitions and installations for the upcoming Jumpers and Jazz in July festival including a yarn-bombed tree retrospective, a knitted installation of Australian birds, storytelling and dress-up play inside an inflatable Australian animal sculpture, knitted panels exploring the subject of self care, a touring exhibition and a community project with a local facilitator for making cardboard relief sculptures. The overarching philosophy of the public programs during the festival is to showcase innovation in textile art.
RADF is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Local Government to support local arts and culture in the region.
Just over $33,000 is still available in the council’s RADF budget to be awarded by 31 July. Applicants can request grants of up to $25,000.
