Place Activation Grant Program Recipients Announced
Date: 2nd Apr 2023
Three activation projects have been selected to receive $10,000 each as part of the inaugural Place Activation Grants Program.
Taking place at the MET hub in the heart of the Maroochydore City Centre, the projects selected provide an opportunity for the community to engage with art events, workshops and temporary artworks on site and investigate their own relationship and contributions to their future city.
RECIPIENT #1 - JANDAMARRA CADD
First Nations artist, Jandamarra Cadd was selected to paint a large three panelled mural style art work installed on the scaffolding of the MET in March 2023. As a Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Warung descendent living on Gubbi Gubbi country, Jandamarra uses his vibrant and expressive portraiture as a medium to bridge the story telling divide between Aboriginal and mainstream Australia. Having been a finalist in the Archibald Prize and the Brisbane Portrait Prize, as well as being the first Aboriginal artist to paint a portrait (of Nova Peris OAM) for the Historic Memorials Collection in Parliament House, these works aim to challenge, inspire and heal.
RECIPIENT #2 - SUNSHINE COAST GUITAR ORCHESTRA by RED CHAIR
Red Chair are a locally based performing arts and production company touring events and festivals both nationally and internationally. Their project for the Place Activation Grant Program will see the reformation of the Sunshine Coast Guitar Orchestra (SCGO) led by acclaimed musician, teacher and composer, Andrew Veivers.
From January 2023, the SCGO will meet fortnightly on Monday evenings at the MET for guitar workshops to learn a diverse repertoire in preparation for a high-profile public performance in the MET Amphitheatre in June 2023.
The SCGO will be open to local guitarists of any ability and age. Cost is $15 per session - book here.
RECIPIENT #3 - CITY BLOOM
The third project selected is a collaboration between four experienced artists and art facilitators, Dr Sue Davis of Wild/flower Women, Chony Bowden of ‘Chony’s Art Room’ and Brisbane based photo media artists Man&Wah, well known for their exquisite botanical imagery and creations.
City Bloom will consist of three workshops during January and February 2023 with a free ‘night garden’ projection event on the MET site alongside the next Design Series event in March 2023. The projections will be a ‘floraliegium’ of key local flowering plant species and immersive sound and music, inviting the audience to watch and actively respond through art and drawing to the imagery projected on large screens.
The Place Activation Grant Program is an initiative of the Maroochydore City Centre delivered in partnership with Walker Corporation, SunCentral and Sunshine Coast Council.