Thank you, Culture Bank, for Funding our Projects!
These are the six winners of the last Culture Bank funding round. They are unique projects and will bring so much to the community in so many ways. The competition was extremely large in this round, and all the applications were heart-stirring. We simply wish we had more members – so we could have funded them all. If you think the following sounds like pretty good stuff, please remember we need you to keep doing what we do. If we had 2000 members, we could give away $240,000 per annum for culture. See some of the projects below and be inspired, intrigued, interested and invest in Culture.
A Garden for Life
Indigenous Plants, Food and Culture Day
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2022 AT 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Bush tucker, also called bush food, is food native to Australia. Aboriginal Australians have used indigenous plants for food and medicine for millennia. In this one-hour workshop, school children and community groups of all ages will experience the diversity of Australian Aboriginal culture and food.
Come and join for a full day of cultural immersion where you will be taught traditional weaving, language, storytelling and how to grow and harvest native edible plants. Aunty Dolly Brown and daughter Jemma Kitchener join us to teach traditional weaving techniques. Language and storytelling guests to be announced soon. We will teach you about native plants with lots of taste testing.
An indigenous flavoured lunch will be provided along with morning and afternoon tea.
Take home a goodies bag full of treats and detailed notes to continue your knowledge well beyond the day’s events. We hope you can join us.
*This event is generously supported with a grant from Culture Bank Wollongong.
Ali Gordon
Ali will develop a theatrical adaptation of local author Kirli Saunders’ picture book for primary school-aged children and their families. This adaptation of Kirli Saunders’ “The Incredible Freedom Machines” is a response to the isolation of COVID-19 and the importance of imaginative play for young people in such a closed-down reality.
I am so incredibly in awe of Culture Bank for the work they do to improve Wollongong’s arts and cultural life…What a unique place Wollongong is, and what wonderful people its members are to put their money into this work. Lockdowns proved a simply devastating time for my art practice, and I am only starting to rebuild my work and begin to emerge with new energy. It is such an incredible lift to receive funding at this time. My project will begin the process of bringing a new and important story to our young people using theatre. Our children have missed out on so much through the lockdown. They need stories that mirror and explore their experiences and offer hope for the future. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! - Ali Gordon
Holy Pavlova
Will create an accessible, contemporary sound bath experience featuring Wollongong-based instrumental bands.
Picture walking into a calm, open room. The space is dimly lit by candlelight. On the ground, yoga mats are spaced comfortably apart. After a brief Welcome to Country introduction to the event, you lay down and close your eyes. A contemporary instrumental band starts softly playing, the start of a 45-minute performance that will experience exclusivity through auditory senses and sound vibrations felt through the body. The event is designed to facilitate an internal experience, unlike a live music show where the audience is distracted by lights, crowd, conversation & alcohol.
“We are extremely grateful for the support in bringing new concepts to life. Diversity in music & art experiences contributes greatly to the vibrancy of a city. It wouldn’t be possible without the generous members of Culture Bank, and we’re very excited to share the outcomes with you.”
Illawarra Potters Incorporated
To sponsor two people for six months who are currently experiencing financial disadvantage but would like to start learning pottery.
We are so grateful for this money; we have always wanted to provide some free spaces in this workshop. Still, because we need the money, it brings in fundraising to run the studio we haven’t been able to. With your funds, we can now purchase the wheel, provide the spots, and redirect our fundraising efforts into fundraising for a new large kiln. Thank you for giving this opportunity to 2 people. The sponsorship will also include clay, tools, firing and access to the studio, all at no cost for six months. What you all do is so amazing. We will be encouraging all of our members to join. THANKS AGAIN from all of us to all of you.
Lucy Mills
Local musician Lucy Mills will develop a debut album and supporting content with the help of other creatives in the Wollongong area.
” Thank you so much! I went for a walk in the sun by the beach in Towradgi yesterday afternoon with a big smile on my face. I’m sure you know as a creative, it’s often solitary work, so to receive the support of Culture Bank (my community) makes a world of difference. I’ll be offering some discounts and/or free tickets to members when the time comes to release.
Sarah Hudson
Local director and film-maker Sarah Hudson wrote: “Together with my favourite accomplice in film, Liz Tadic, we’ve been dipping our toes into the Jam n Bread music project over the last two years, set on documenting what we’ve come to think of as the secret, beating heart and musical soul of the Illawarra. Exploring the concept of “hidden maestros”,
Hooray! Thank you so much! We can’t wait to make this beautiful film and share this music with the world! Thanks so much for supporting local artists and creatives – little grants have a big impact!
So far, we’ve given away over $100,000 to these and many more innovative projects, and we’re eager to do more! You can make that happen by joining us today or getting others to sign up!
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