Funding boost for MAMA and LibraryMuseum

Minister for the Arts Don Harwin and Member for Albury Greg Aplin have announced $184,640 in grants for local cultural organisations.

MAMA will benefit from a $100,000 Arts and Cultural Organisations Program grant to support its 2019 program, with the aim of showcasing excellence in local, national and international arts and cultural practice throughout the year.Through a $74,000 Regional Partnerships grant, Albury City’s Library Museum will lead a major partnership initiative, Aftermath: WWI's impact on our Community, for the region, incorporating Albury City, Greater Hume Shire, the Museum Advisor program, Wiradjuri Aboriginal Organisations, Murray Arts, CSU and community museums. The project will include a major Library and Museum exhibition, smaller exhibits in each museum and an online exhibition. It will involve engagement of artists, strong programming, significant mentoring and will provide cultural tourism outcomes.The Flying Fruit Fly (Circus) Foundation will receive a $10,640 Aboriginal Regional Arts Fund grant to stage the Bouncing River Kids: Leaders weekly circus skills workshop and leadership program. The initiative will engage between 15-20 students in the Albury Aboriginal community and is a partnership with the James Fallon High School's Aboriginal Education Team and Albury City Council, with the aim of identifying and nurturing emerging community leaders. Last year the organisation benefitted from a $43,497 Regional Cultural Fund grant to afford major new circus apparatus and solar panels.

Speaking during a visit to Albury, Minister Harwin praised the combined creativity across the region. “The NSW Government is committed to driving cultural and artistic excellence across the State, and to making every effort to create new spaces in which local communities can enjoy these. I am delighted to have been able to support such a variety of creative efforts and thrilled to have seen the results of this funding in person here today.”

Mr Aplin commented, “I appreciate the Minister making time to visit some of Albury’s premier cultural organisations and assist them in their programming with financial support. A lot of good will come to our community from this.”

Liberal candidate for Albury, Justin Clancy, added, “This funding is recognition of local excellence in the arts. It is a boost for cultural programs that focus on leadership, nurturing talent and mentoring within organizations. The arts play an integral role in our community and I welcome this funding.”

Albury Mayor Kevin Mack added, “We are so proud of our arts and cultural spaces here in Albury-Wodonga. It's fantastic to see that they are being recognised by the NSW government and we look forward to sharing the results of these grants with our community and visitors."

Flying Fruit Fly Circus Artistic Director Anni Davey added, “We are delighted to receive support for our Bouncing River Leaders program. We hope that this funding will allow us to support young people in the local Aboriginal community to develop their skills in leadership and in circus, giving them access to the national youth circus, and potential future employment opportunities.”

During his visit, the Minister attended the heritage listed Pump House at Waterworks Road to discuss Council’s plans for this new arts infrastructure, made possible through a $1.3m Regional Cultural Fund (RCF) Round One grant for Albury City Council to extend the space into a creative Maker Space with an additional 54.5m² of floorspace. In addition, the funding is supporting comprehensive upgrades for the A Month in the Country farmhouse and MAMA House.