Calling Artists for Gold Coast Creative Development Program

Applications are now open for HOTA’s 2020 Creative Development Program, which aims to support emerging and established local artists.

HOTA CEO Criena Gehrke today announced that applications are now open for the initiative that has been designed to support art-making and provide platforms for creative development, presentation and collaboration.

“The Creative Development Program is a collaborative initiative and one of the ways in which ‘we put our money where our mouth is’, underscoring our support of artists,“ said Gehrke.

“This program is focused on giving direct support to local artists. We’re offering funding, professional support and in-kind resources to help our amazing homegrown talent develop their ideas.”

The program was established last year and was incredibly successful with more than 60 artists involved in creating, developing and producing all kinds of work.

“Successful applicants covered a wide spectrum of disciplines including dance, storytelling, visual art and mind-blowing experiences and it was a great privilege to see first-hand how this kind of support can really help artists thrive.”

Nadia Sunde was one of the inaugural grant recipients; a performing artist and author, who collaborated with Everybody Now on ‘R.I.N.K: a celebration of rollerskating culture’.

“The Creative Development Program allowed us to take our rough diamond of inspiration for our project RINK, shine it under a light and really begin to explore its facets.”

This year there is a combined pool of over $200,000 in cash and in-kind resources available and HOTA is once again welcoming ideas both large and small from all artistic forms.

“To be eligible you must be an individual artist or arts company that is currently working or living on the Gold Coast or are developing a body of work here,” said Gehrke.

”Local artists with projects that could benefit from some of their development taking place interstate can also apply to co-develop their work at Carriageworks in Sydney, as well as here on the Gold Coast.”

One of the unique aspects for the HOTA Creative Development Program is that there is no requirement for a presentation outcome.

Artists can use the resources and funding to take the time to develop their ideas, without the pressure of a deadline for a  final performance season or exhibition this year.

Grayson Millwood, co-Artistic Director of The Farm and recipient of a 2019 grant, believes this funding format fostered by the HOTA Creative Development Program, liberates creativity by taking the pressure off.

“Our projects are full of schedules and deadlines, and so it feels special to work on a stand-alone event that lives in the present,” Millwood said.

In 2019, some of the recipients chose to present a pilot performance while others took part in an industry showcase, which enabled them to receive feedback on their work while it was in development.

Dr Corrina Bonshek, who was awarded funding for the second stage of development of ‘Laniakea’; an immersive music/lighting experience said showing her work was incredibly valuable.

“It allowed us to get feedback from an audience of knowledgeable arts-lovers and was a litmus test for finding out if our vision has been communicated,” Bonshek said.

With applications now open, Criena Gehrke believes there will be a high calibre and large cross-section of works and projects to be submitted.

“We can’t wait to see what’s to be submitted this year – the diversity and scope of our arts community here locally. I encourage local artists to check out the details and apply online, with chosen projects and artists to be announced in early April.”

Applications close Thursday, 27 February 2020.

For more information about the Creative Development Program, visit HOTA’s Website.

Media Release supplied by HOTA.