The Northern Beaches has a thriving and diverse creative community, and we are proud to support its growth and evolution through our Arts & Creativity Grants program.

Since its establishment in 2020, the program has funded almost 100 creative projects with over $250,000 in support, including funding in response to the pandemic through the Creative Community Support grants.

The grants are open to a range of projects, programs and activities providing opportunities for individual artists, cultural or creative workers, or arts organisations across all art forms, delivering direct benefit to local communities and individuals.

We’re shining a light on three recent projects that have used the Council’s Arts & Creativity grant funding to connect our community with local stories, culture, and history.

Billy Bain – Being Manly

Darug man and local artist Billy Bain presented a solo exhibition of his work Being Manly at Manly Art Gallery & Museum. The exhibition explored representations of Australian masculinity by playfully deconstructing popular iconography and histories related to Manly’s cultural identity. The grant supported Billy’s development of work for the exhibition.

“Receiving an Arts and Creativity Grant last year allowed me to create a series of larger and more ambitious works for my first Solo Show with a public gallery at Manly Art Gallery & Museum. Being an emerging artist, it can be difficult to afford to find the funds to create large scale work. Receiving the grant really helped alleviate some of these stresses and allowed me to focus on making an exciting body of work.” 

Paul Allinson – Northern Beaches Soundscapes

With grant support, Paul Allinson created a suite of music compositions to accompany several walking routes in our local area. The pieces are inspired by the local environment and include soundscapes from the natural areas such as birds, insects, waterfalls and incorporated them into the compositions using electronic music.

The five compositions Paul produced are accessible via QR codes and can be discovered in various locations where the field recordings were taken at Narrabeen Lagoon, Warriewood, Narrabeen and Turimetta Beach, Warriewood Wetlands and the Ingleside Reserve.

“The grant has been very important to allow me to create the works. I’m grateful for the assistance at a time when the arts have been hammered by Covid lockdowns and the like. I hope my story will inspire other local artists to apply for grants in the future and produce some innovative works.”

Heidi Lee Warta – Ochre Woman

As part of NAIDOC Week 2022, artist Heidi Lee Warta delivered a two-week exhibition and series of public programs at the Curl Curl Creative Space. Heidi’s project connected with local Aboriginal women to share their stories and what healing Country means to them.

“This exhibition is the first of its kind, especially in our area.  Hopefully, this will lead to a continued body of work that highlights the contribution that First Nations people make to the fabric of the Northern Beaches community.”

The grant directly supported Heidi’s development of ten portraits of local Aboriginal women. 

Have an idea for a project and want to find out more about the Arts and Creativity Grants? Download the guidelines and check out the application form.

Apply now before the grants close midnight 8 August 2022.

Interested in being on the assessment panel for the Arts and Creativity Grants?

Complete an online application or for more information get in touch.

To speak to the Arts and Culture team contact 02 8495 5123 or email creative@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au