News January 11, 2019

Gang of Youths and Julia Jacklin among Aus Council Grant recipients 2019

The Australia Council is set to deliver $6.6 million in order to support almost 200 artistic projects that range from career development, regional touring, and international opportunities for Aussie artists.

Their latest round of grants included strong projects that were led by First Nations artists and First Nations-led organisations, in addition to those receiving funding through the dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts panel.

183 projects were funded by the Australian Council Grant in total, with a further 271 projects being assessed by peers as being of high merit and deserving support, but couldn’t be funded within the scope of the budget.

According to the Australia Council Executive Director of Grants and Engagement, Frank Panucci, this demonstrates an opportunity for further investment in Australia’s creative future.

RELATED: Stella Donnelly, Middle Kids, Jen Cloher among Aus Council grant recipients 2018

Watch Gang of Youths performing ‘Let Me Down Easy’ live at Splendour in the Grass 2018:

“We continue to receive more high-quality applications than we are currently able to support, which highlights the incredible opportunity that exists to invest in Australia’s rich creative talent and the development of our nation,” Panucci said.

“The Australia Council will continue to advocate for increased investment in the arts throughout 2019 and beyond, recognising the crucial role of the arts in contributing to Australia’s rapidly growing creative economy, as well as the social and cultural success of our nation,” he added.

“Our research shows the arts help promote empathy and socially cohesive communities, in addition to enriching the lives of all who experience them.”

In total, the Council received 2,353 applications for funding.

Organisations receiving the Australian Council Grant include:

Music NT ($100k) for their 2019 activities
Contemporary Music Victoria ($75k) for their 2019 program
Melb Jazz Co-Op ($60k) for their 2019 program of concerts and events
Skinnyfish Music ($55k) to support the music program at the 2019 Barunga Festival in the NT
Razor Recordings ($47k) for live touring throughout 2019 by the Yothu Yindi Treaty Project
The Australian Music Centre ($100k) for a two-year program of market development for Australian jazz in Europe delivered in partnership with Sounds Australia.

International activities supported included:

Gang of Youths ($38k) for a USA headline tour
Lance Ferguson ($36k) for a Bamboos European tour
Sylvie Nehill ($28k) for a Divide and Dissolve US tour
Julia Jacklin ($40k) for international touring
Qld folkie Monique Barktowiak ($5032) to head to Canada to do a residency at the prestigious Banff centre and then showcase the Folk Alliance market
ex Qmusic now Qld Music fest head Joel Edmondson ($15k) to support undertaking an intensive leadership development program at Harvard in May 2019
Artist and label boss Nina Agzarian AKA Nina Las Vegas ($8k) to support a range of business and professional development activities in the US and UK
Odette ($12k) to support international marketing of her debut album
Drummer Andrew Hewitt ($10k) towards his “Wheelchair and all” tour of the US.

The Australian Council Grant also supported the development of new projects including:

NYC based jazz bassist LindaOh ($27k) who will write new major works for premier at the Melb. International Jazz Fest
Northeast Party House receive $28k towards their new album
RVG receive$25k towards their 2^nd album
San Lazaro receive$25k to write and record new material
Cairns-based First Nations reggae outfit Zennith receive $30k towards a new album
Paddy Mann picks up $16k towards a new Grand Salvo album
First nations female hip hop outfit Oetha pick up $32k to support recording new material and production of music videos
Composer and violinist Erkki Veltheim who previously collaborated with Dr G on the “Djarramirri” album, receives $17k to produce his first solo album which will be released on the prestigious on Room 40 label
First nations duo Microwave Jenny pick up $21k to support a new album
Arnhem Lands all female Ripple Effect pick up $35k to support development and recording of new work
Paul Mac receives $38,866 towards final stage development of his musical theatre piece “The Rise and Fall of St George”
Senegalese born Melbourne musician MalamineSonko receives $24k to create a new body of work for premier at Melbourne Recital Centre.