THE names of successful recipients in this year’s first round of “Arts Activities Funding”, (formerly known as project grants) have been released today (May 21).

In announcing the 15 successful applicants across a range of art forms, including visual arts, literature, theatre, music and dance, Arts Minister Gordon Ramsay said: “This new approach to arts funding has been very well received by artists.”

“I am proud that we have achieved such great outcomes for the community by providing more flexibility and more funding opportunities for artists,” he said.

More than $300,000 funding went to activities including $24,770 to Mirramu Dance Company for the development of an immersive-reality dance-film, “Crone”, $38,260 to The Griffyn Ensemble to create five new art songs by indigenous and non-Indigenous composers, set to texts spoken in Parliament, and $14,134 to visual artist Julie Bradley for an international artist residency in Ireland.

Among the ACT Screen Arts Fund recipients were Christian Doran, who received $15,000 for production of “Mirrors: Web Series”, while $16,960 went to Marisa Martin for production of short film/proof of concept, “Violet Daze” and Claudia Cooney received $14,164 for script development of the series “Monsoon Season”.

In the Community Outreach Arts list, Ainslie + Gorman Arts Centres received $39,038 for “Ahead of the Game”, a program of workshops, engagement and mentorships with LGBTIQ artists, while $22,013 went to Craft ACT to develop a disability access and inclusion plan for “DESIGN Canberra” and Rebus Theatre received $28,618 to create theatrical performances for emerging artists with disabilities.

The next $5000 to $50,000 funding round will open at arts.act.gov.au on June 1 and closes on July 31.