Council announces Social Change Through Creativity grant winners

Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone presented the cheques on Thursday, 12 July 2018 at a ceremony at Fairfield City Council as part of the Council’s Social Change Through Creativity program. Now in its 15th year, Social Change Through Creativity is an annual grants program that Council provides to local not-for-profit organisations and groups to develop and deliver programs with and for Fairfield City residents. The projects promote free community participation and the inclusion of community members that would not otherwise have an opportunity to take part in such projects. “I am extremely proud to congratulate the successful applicants of our Social Change Through Creativity program for 2018,” Mayor Carbone said. “These grants provide an opportunity for groups to help the community come together in unique and creative ways – through music, art, storytelling and festivals. Grant winners will help domestic violence victims, newly-arrived refugees, young adults with disabilities, and children who are deaf – in a unique, engaging and interactive way.” “I look forward to seeing these projects in action, making a real difference in our community and the lives of residents who normally wouldn’t be able to participate in these projects.” Additionally, the successful programs needed to address one of the following criteria: highlight and strengthen cultural heritage; promote cross-cultural understanding; encourage inter-generational understanding; address environmental concerns/issues; promote Reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and other Fairfield City communities; increase health and wellbeing through arts activities; facilitate the participation of young people in arts and social action; or develop liveable and creative communities, especially supporting those with disabilities. The successful projects are: • Women in Action “Awakening Our Goddesses” will work with women survivors of domestic violence to facilitate healing and explore emotions through a series of arts-based workshops guided by professionals. Project participants will exhibit final artworks. • Al-Muntada (Iraqi Australian University Graduates Forum) The “2018 Iraqi Australian Youth Festival of Ideas and Culture” will be held in December. The project focuses on intergenerational and cultural understanding while developing the cultural production capacity of youth previously mentored through the Iraqi Artist mentorship program. • The Parks Community Network Inc “Fighting to Save Fairfield (A Health Initiative)” seeks to raise awareness about the high rates of male and youth suicide in Fairfield through film and social media. The project looks at how Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities view the stigma around mental health. Young people will foster community conversations about mental health. • The Peacemakers Ensemble “TRACK – Trauma Recovery and Creative Knowledge” will produce a musical composition with newly-arrived young and senior-aged Mesopotamian and Syrian refugees. Participants will explore trauma and healing through 12-week mentoring workshops. • Fairfield Old Timers History Group “The Fairfield West History Project” will engage the community to compile a brief history of Fairfield West from its time as a small farming area. This will be presented at Whitlam Library through a storytelling event. • Fairfield Youth Outreach “It’s OK To Be Different” is a collaborative song-writing project for young adults living with disabilities in Fairfield. This collaborative project consists of 12 workshops where participants can break the cycle of isolation. • Community Outreach Services (CASA) “The Emotionary Project” is an art-therapy initiative working with parents and their children to explore their emotions through an “altered-book” project. These inter-generational workshops will work on developing emotional intelligence and competency. • The Shepherd Centre "Audible Art - A specialist playgroup for children in Fairfield who are deaf" is a series of art and music workshops to engage hearing impaired children in experiential learning culminating in an exhibition. The program reduces social isolation providing a safe network for both parents and children.