GROUNDED receives federal funding boost

GROUNDED YP Art Festival will receive a boost of $22,615 through the Federal Government’s Regional Arts Fund.

Yorke Peninsula Council is amongst 37 organisations and individuals that will share in $830,000 in the first round of Regional Arts Fund Project Grants for 2023.

The Regional Arts Fund, which in South Australia is managed by Country Arts SA, provides essential social and economic benefits to regional and remote communities by supporting artists, art organisations and workers to increase the number of cultural activities and experiences in local communities, and generate creative partnerships and sustainable artistic practices for regional and remote artists.

The Yorke Peninsula Council Arts and Culture Working Group recently announced the rebranded 10-day event, building on the former YP Art Exhibition, which will feature the original exhibitions plus artist panels, workshops, live music and more.

The festival will be held across the peninsula from Friday, 11 August, to Sunday, 20 August.

“The Yorke Peninsula Art Exhibition was held biennially for several years until it was forcibly shelved due to Covid-19,” Mayor Darren Braund said.

“Rather than simply bring the event back, we intend to reimagine it as a week-long festival featuring the traditional exhibitions plus artist panels, workshops, live music and more, all focused entirely on showcasing Narungga and Yorke Peninsula artists.

“Our aim is for the new festival to be a premier regional event on the SALA calendar, creating widespread social and economic benefits for Yorke Peninsula and South Australia.”

Yorke Peninsula Council understands the importance of the arts for enhancing community.

“The successful elements of the former YP Art Exhibition will remain, namely three art displays open to artists throughout Australia held at three venues across Yorke Peninsula and covering painting, sculpture and photography,” Mr Braund said.

Arts and Cultural Facilitator Sonya Rankine said the success of rebranding GROUNDED has been made possible by the skills, talent and connections of the YPC Arts and Culture Working Group.

“Members of the working group are each championing an event or element of the GROUNDED YP Art Festival to bring it all together,” Ms Rankine said.

“The grant from Country Arts SA’s Regional Arts Fund makes it possible to engage local Yorke Peninsula and Narungga artists to deliver a wide variety of art workshops.

“It will enable us to offer free and subsidised art workshops for the community to engage richly in the arts on the YP.

“Come on artists, get your entry in and be a part of the inaugural GROUNDED YP Art Festival, we also welcome any volunteer support from our community.”

To find out more about the festival visit www.ypart.com.au.

Artist entries open

Artist applications in open and school categories for paintings, sculptures and photography are currently open.

Each application can submit up to three pieces in the open category for $20 per work, with the works to be displayed for sale and judging.

All works entered are eligible for prizes, with more than $20,000 in prize money up for grabs across the different categories.

Students are also encouraged to participate in the school categories which is free to enter.

Online entries must be received by midnight Friday, 7 July 2023.

To enter visit www.ypart.com.au/for-artists.