Minister for the Arts Peter Batchelor today announced the final round of funding through the Brumby Labor Government’s Arts Recovery Quick Response Grants program, which has provided more than $95,000 to support 43 arts projects in bushfire affected areas.
“The Arts Recovery Quick Response Fund has been a great success,” Mr Batchelor said.
“It has encouraged both artists and community members in bushfire affected areas to make sense of their experiences through creative expression.
“This is a vital tool in the recovery process – as we rebuild homes and infrastructure, we must also work to rebuild community spirit.”
Mr Batchelor said the program, launched in April 2009, had provided funds to exhibitions and arts workshops, poetry readings, literature projects, documentary filmmaking and community choir or music groups.
The final round of projects includes the building of a memorial gum tree sculpture in Strathewen, a photographic exhibition that explores the changing landscape of the Upper Yarra Valley, and therapeutic art and drama classes at Strathewen Primary School.
“The Brumby Labor Government launched the Fund in April 2009 after consultations with artists and arts workers in bushfire affected areas revealed the need for a funding program that was quick and flexible,” Mr Batchelor said.
“My thanks go to Regional Arts Victoria, who managed the program and to all of the artists and community members who have helped to make it a success.”
This weekend, Mr Batchelor will visit the Yarra Valley to open TarraWarra Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, Bushfire Australia.
The exhibition examines current and historical portrayals of bushfires through art and draws on work by a range of Australian artists from state, public and private collections. In 2009, the Museum received $15,000 to present the exhibition through the Brumby Labor Government’s Arts Development program
“Bushfire Australia is a reflective and poignant exploration of the phenomenon of bushfires,” Mr Batchelor said. “It contains historical works, such as William Strutt’s iconic Black Thursday, February 6th 1851, through to new works created in response to the 2009 fires.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Bushfire Reconstruction Ben Hardman said the free exhibition and public programs would provide an opportunity for the Yarra Valley community and beyond to reflect on the tragic events of February 2009.
“Throughout history, the arts have played a role in bushfire recovery and Bushfire Australia is a great example the role art can play in helping us to make sense of events that shake us,” Mr Hardman said.