Grant success for City's Maritime Festival

Published on Wednesday, 19 January 2022 at 10:13:48 AM

The 2022 City of Albany Maritime Festival has been given a funding boost with the recent announcement of two successful grants.

The Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications and the WA Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSCI) have both committed funding to enable the staging of the winter festival in July.

$50,000 will be funded through the DLGSC Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program; with the Australian Government Festivals Australia grant providing $38,666.

Manager Community Relations Louise Paterson said the funding will enable the City to deliver a city wide program of events throughout the July school holidays.

“The Maritime Festival is all about celebrating our City’s cultural and maritime history, including that of our Menang Noongar people, who have strong links to the sea dating back thousands of years,” Ms Paterson said.

“This funding will enable us to expand on the success of last year’s Festival with a diverse arts and culture program at a number of venues around town.

“Inspired by Albany’s oyster and all things green and blue, the Maritime Festival will open with the G&B Exhibition at the Albany Entertainment Centre. This curated multi-media art exhibition will provide opportunities for emerging Menang Noongar artists to collaborate with established artists to explore the green and blue theme in new and innovative ways,” she said.

The City will partner with Breaksea to present a community engagement program inspired by Albany’s coastal setting called From the Shadows and into the Light.

Breaksea will deliver a series of lantern and puppetry workshops in the lead up to the Festival culminating in puppetry performances and light creature installations during the Festival.

“To ensure our local businesses benefit from the Festival, we have also developed two special programs that will encourage locals and visitors alike to journey around the City and visit businesses throughout the holidays,” Ms Paterson said.

Showcasing Albany’s unique produce and providores, the Maritime Menu Map will lead locals and visitors on a culinary adventure around the City and broader region, with each participating hospitality business hosting a special maritime menu delicacy or two.

The Maritime Treasure Trail will encourage children and their parents to explore the City’s pre and post colonial history while hunting for clues to have their Maritime Passport stamped to get their key to the treasure.

The Maritime Festival will run from the 2 – 17 July 2022.

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