Yarra will allocate more than $200,000 towards 20 artists and organisations to deliver  projects including writing residencies, community theatre, circus, exhibitions, immersive theatre for children and several festivals ranging from contemporary dance to autumn celebrations on the Collingwood Housing Estate, as part of the 2019 Annual Grants program.

The individuals and groups to receive grants reflect Yarra’s diversity, with many grants awarded to projects that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse groups. 

In the Community Arts stream, Mama Alto received funding for a performance and workshop program focussing on “empowering trans, gender diverse and marginalised people to free their voices and sing, beyond the oppressive and gendered expectations of voice that mainstream society cultivates”.

Several arts organisations received funding to support residency programs in 2019. 

Un Projects will offer two residencies to support the creative and critical practice of Australian arts writers, based in the Un Projects offices in the Florence Peel Centre, Fitzroy. The residencies include mentorship with members of the un Editorial Advisory Committee, participation in the ‘un Conversation’ series, and a public presentation/publication. At least one of the two places will be reserved for a First Nations’ arts writer. 

The Women’s Art Register received funding for their project ‘Re-register; Australian Women Sculptors from the Women’s Art Register’, their inaugural Artist-in-Residence project. WAR will host Richmond artist and WAR volunteer Julia Boros for six months. Julia will develop a body of work, a new publication and an exhibition based on the Australian Women Sculptors - 1860-1960 research project undertaken by WAR in 1978. 

In the festival and events category, the award-winning Smith Street Dreaming project, from the Smith Street Working Group, is among the recipients. This annual festival showcases local talent, and emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

Yarra is proud to help fund these programs, which support and enrich arts and cultural activities within the City of Yarra and promote connectedness, community and creativity. 

Find out more about the 2019 Annual Grant recipients.