Yarra’s Creative Business COVID-19 quick response grants are supporting our community to adapt, create and develop during this period of physical isolation. Five businesses were recently awarded a total of $20,000 in the latest grant round.

Slow Clay Centre will use the current COVID-19 restrictions to train staff to develop and deliver three of their key ceramics courses online. Slow Clay Centre will use funding for training and hardware costs.

Slow Clay Centre have operated in Yarra since 1990, delivering specialised ceramics classes to students through short courses and via a Studio Practice program. Their Studio Practice Program, Porcelain Small Objects and Form & Surface courses will be available online for current and new students in the near future.

‘The 86’ Cabaret Bar will present a new and exciting program of tutorials ‘At Home But Not Alone’ by the Fella’s in Frocks cast. The cast will deliver online classes teaching make-up, comedy editing, costuming, wig styling and hosting. If restrictions allow it, later in the year students will have the opportunity to compete to perform in front of a live audience at ‘The 86’, putting their new-found skills to practice.

The Tote will adapt their space for the purpose of live-streaming gigs and interviews, while Fitzroy Painting Co and Backwoods Gallery will adapt to deliver classes, workshops and interviews online.

All grants have now been awarded, distributing 16 Creative Business grants and 56 Creative Community grants to support our local creative community.

If you would like to contribute directly to this grant program, via a special fund set up through the Australian Cultural Fund, you can find out more details here.

Read more about Council’s support around COVID-19 here.