More federal funding for Blue Mountains artists

Under the latest round of the Morrison Government’s Culture, Heritage and Arts Regional Tourism program, three organisations in the Blue Mountains will receive grant funding.

Blue Mountains Cultural Centre will receive $3,000 for their project, The Katoomba Culture Trail Mapping Project, which will see the development of a printed and online wayfaring resource to highlight a number of activated sites within walking distance of the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre.

Mount Victoria & District Historical Society Inc. will receive $3,000 for their project, Mount Victoria Museum Service and Recreation Exhibit, to engage a curator to advise and work with volunteers to establish a new public services and recreation exhibit at the Mount Victoria Museum.

Modern Art Projects Blue Mountains will receive $3,000 for their project, LUMIERE: Mount Victoria’s Festival of the Moving Image, for the staging of the LUMIERE festival, 10-days of moving image-based works and activations in unique spaces throughout the historic village of Mount Victoria. Includes the screening of artists’ films and experimental video in the salons of the Manor, outdoor cinema in the grounds, Mount Vic Flicks vintage cinema, installations in shop windows, building projections, public programs and talks.

Liberal Senator for Western Sydney, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, said investing in the Blue Mountains’ vibrant arts scene was good news for local jobs.

“Delivering this funding for grassroots exhibitions supports local artists, in addition to encouraging more tourists to explore our villages,” Senator Payne said.

Mr Tony Middleton, Treasurer of the Mount Victoria & District Historical Society, said the federal funding was a “fantastic outcome!”

“A public services and recreation exhibit has been identified as a gap in the Museum’s collection,” Mr Middleton said.

“The grant will help the Museum get professional advice from a curator to set up the exhibit and create a template for contemporary room exhibition design that can be used by the Museum’s volunteers for updating other room exhibits, ensuring the Museum’s collection is refreshed.”

Ward 1 Councillor Kevin Schreiber said the arts were a vital part of the Blue Mountains lifestyle.

“Our local arts scene is a distinctive part of our City which contributes immensely to our local economy, so this federal funding package is very welcome,” Cr Schreiber said.

The CHART program is being administered by the Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA) on behalf of the Government. Applications are open until 29 April 2022, or until funding is allocated, whichever comes first.