Geelong Arts Centre has announced the six recipients of its latest Creative Engine grant packages.
With the aim to benefit artists and creatives working in the region, in their pursuit to develop fresh, innovative, and exciting work, the Geelong Arts Centre has announced the six talented recipients of their latest Creative Engine grant packages. This announcement marks a significant moment for Geelong Arts Centre as it celebrates its first ‘class’ of Creative Engine grant recipients since the grand reopening of their $140 million redevelopment in August.
The Geelong Arts Centre will provide both financial support and in-kind studio access within their brand-new, state-of-the-art venue. The total value of these grants is an impressive $59,000, demonstrating the Centre’s commitment to fostering emerging artistic talent.
Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here.
Now in its fourth year, the Creative Engine grants are designed to directly benefit local artists in the G21 region and those with strong connections to the community. These grants have already had a substantial impact, supporting 51 creative projects since December 2018.
This year’s selection process was highly competitive, with submissions spanning various artistic disciplines, including screenwriting, traditional and experimental theatre, music, and puppetry. What united these projects were their ability to meet the program’s three essential selection criteria: Connection, Innovation, and Thoughtfulness.
Here are this year’s worthy grant recipients and their projects:
IGNITION RECIPIENTS (Awarded $5,000 + In-kind Studio Access + Mentoring Opportunities)
1. Imaginary Friends – Georgie Rose Imaginary Friends is a multi-disciplinary puppetry performance that promises to be whimsical, playful, and inspiring. It’s aimed at young children but has universal themes and messages of courage and kindness, making it a family-friendly experience.
2. SWARM – Melinda Chapman SWARM is a multi-art performance work exploring artificial intelligence and transhumanism through the lens of its impact on seven family members and one synthetic person in the 2030s. This thought-provoking piece delves into the implications of technological innovations in the poorly regulated boom of Big Tech.
JUMP START RECIPIENTS (Awarded $3,000 + In-kind Studio Access)
1. Under Milk Wood – Christine Davey Under Milk Wood is a subversive theatrical adaptation of the 1954 Dylan Thomas radio drama. This adaptation takes the audience on a 24-hour life cycle journey through a town that could be anywhere, anytime, making it a celebration of life itself.
2. Lost Horizon – Michael Carmody A new theatrical adaptation of James Hilton’s classic twentieth-century novel Lost Horizon, this adaptation aims to crack traditional themes open for new generations. It’s conceived as a virtuosic one-person show accompanied by an adventurous audio-visual design.
PLACE TO MAKE RECIPIENTS (Awarded In-kind Studio Access)
1. Psyched – Serah Nathan-Sinnathamby Psyched is a 6 x 3 minute original concept narrative series developed for television. It’s a comedy-drama that follows Alina, who admits herself to a psychiatric hospital in an attempt to win back her ex-boyfriend. Along the way, she stumbles upon a scandal involving her psychiatrist.
2. Preparing for Release – Rachel Brennan Over the last ten months, Geelong singer-songwriter Rachel Brennan has been working on an upcoming release project. This exciting project involves recording nine tracks, forming a band, and collaborating with local musicians and artists.
These grant recipients represent the future of creativity in Geelong and are set to make a significant impact on the arts scene.
Stay updated with Geelong Arts Centre’s Creative Engine by heading here.
