$22,000 for Murraylands Regional Arts Projects

Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield, Minister for the Arts and Tony Pasin, Member for Barker, have announced funding for Tailem Bend based Coorong Suicide Prevention Network and Murray Bridge based Ninkowar Inc. through the Regional Arts Fund.

“I am pleased to announce that the Coorong Suicide Prevention Network and Ninkowar Inc. have received a combined $22,000 through the March grant round of the Regional Arts Fund,” Mr Pasin said.

“The funding will help both the Coorong Suicide Prevention Network and Ninkowar Inc. to broaden community engagement with the arts and support our growing creative sector in this region.”

“Funding was provided to the Coorong Suicide Prevention Network for the Long Story Short Project. With a focus on regional men, Arts Facilitator Mark Thompson will lead artists to create contemporary narratives that tell the region’s stories through site specific artworks, signage and digital pathways along the Mallee, Princess and Dukes Highways.”

“Funding was provided to Ninkowar Inc. for the Kaiki and Taralyi Project. Visual artist Damien Shen and Photographer James Tylor will present workshops for Indigenous artists living in the Coorong region. The work created will be exhibited in conjunction with Tarnanthi Festival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Contemporary Art in October 2017.”

Minister Fifield said the Coalition Government has announced more than $850,000 through the Regional Arts Fund March funding round to support 53 regional arts and cultural projects across Australia.

“The Coalition Government is committed to supporting arts and culture in regional and remote areas. Programs like the Regional Arts Fund increase access to cultural experiences outside our urban centres and enable people to build professional skills and networks where they live,” Minister Fifield said.

“The Regional Arts Fund also helps to boost the profile of regional and remote artists and fosters new opportunities for individuals and organisations.”

The Government provides approximately $3.4 million each financial year to support arts and cultural projects in regional and remote Australia through the Regional Arts Fund.

For more information about the program and to view the full list of funding recipients visit: www.arts.gov.au/raf.

Contact: Courtney Stephens 8531 2466 (Pasin)