2 December 2021

New grants are music to Canberra artists' ears

| Ian Bushnell
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Sputnik Sweetheart

Sputnik Sweetheart will have a new EP on the way. Photo: Facebook.

A Canberra band will produce a new EP, a musician a new music video and an arts group a new dance work under the latest round of ACT Government grants to local artists.

Sixty-eight Canberra artists, musicians, filmmakers, performers and other creative practitioners will receive a total of $717,892 worth of grants through the HOMEFRONT and Arts Activities funding initiatives.

Arts Activities recipients include Sputnik Sweetheart, which will receive $13,619 to produce their new EP Something More; and Crossroads Movement, which will develop artistic practice and a new dance work, Sashay Café.

HOMEFRONT grants will support Angus McAndrew with $8000 to record, mix, master and produce a video for new songs by Neko Pink, and performer Shawnah Cady will receive $7865 for video equipment and mentorship for their ‘A Daddy and a Diva’ show.

Nette France from Sputnik Sweetheart said the band was grateful for the incredible opportunity.

“In what has been a tough past few years for our band and our industry, this funding from artsACT will allow us to continue pursuing our creative vision as emerging Australian artists,” she said.

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Lilah and Stephen Gow from Crossroads Movement said they were extremely grateful and excited to receive the funding.

“Bringing our deep love of street dance, contemporary practice and holistic approach together, this opportunity will be an immense support to our development as a new choreographic duo working towards our first full-length work,” they said.

HOMEFRONT, announced in 2020 in response to the impact of COVID-19 on artists in Canberra, is now in its third round, and 54 applicants are receiving funding.

The HOMEFRONT program has now supported a total of 179 artists across the three funding rounds.

Arts Activities ($5000 to $50,000) funding is open twice a year and provides funding to Canberra-based artists and arts groups for one-off projects. A total of 14 artists will receive funding through this latest round.

Minister for the Arts Tara Cheyne said artists had had a challenging time since COVID-19 hit in March 2020.

“There is a depth of talent in our community, and it’s great to see such a broad range of artists applying for and receiving funding through these initiatives,” she said.

“There are projects across dance, literature, music, screen, theatre and visual arts, including recipients from diverse backgrounds and First Nations artists.”

Ms Cheyne said investing in our emerging and established artists and developing arts practices was a key part of the ACT Government’s recently released Statement of Ambition.

“These funding rounds are about providing opportunities for artists – from those just starting out to those who are well known – to create and enhance their practice,” she said.

“When our artists and creatives are supported, our arts ecosystem is strengthened, and we all benefit from having a flourishing artistic community.”

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