Get down and get vibrant – grants now open

The search is on again for entrepreneurs, community groups and artists with innovative ideas to activate the CBD to apply for a new round of grants through the City Makers grant program.

After the success of round one Renewal SA is offering grants of up to $5,000 for placemaking activities and $10,000 for building compliance matters.

Deputy Premier John Rau said the number of quality applications in the first round showed there is an appetite for assistance to overcome costly building compliance matters such as noise, safety and accessibility.

“The grants will help successful applicants deliver programs, projects, events and business concepts that have a positive impact on Adelaide,” he said.

“There is a huge community desire to help Adelaide reach its potential as a vibrant and exciting place and City Makers is a great opportunity to showcase Adelaide’s creative potential.

“The first round of City Makers is already helping people to start up new businesses by supporting building compliance projects which help make Adelaide more accessible and safer and injects new life into buildings that may have otherwise remained dormant.

“Having an active community and cultural scene ensures the city is full of life throughout the day and after hours.”

Placemaking includes public art, street activation and creative activities which add to an area’s amenity and appearance.

One of the successful applicants from the first round of City Makers was Nola Bar, which will be located in Adelaide’s East End. The New Orleans inspired bar is currently under construction.

Co-owner Oliver Brown said he sought City Makers funding to undertake an acoustic assessment so they could offer live entertainment in their premises.

“The grant we got from City Makers has given us a big helping hand towards our ambition to have live music in our venue,” Mr Brown said. “A sound engineer’s report is required to get approval for live entertainment, and this is costly, so thanks to City Makers we are now a step closer to opening our doors later this year.”

SALA General Manager Penny Griggs said SALA was able to ramp up their free city art tours this year thanks to their City Makers grant.

“City Makers grants are a wonderful support for creative projects in the city,” Ms Griggs said.

“Through our grant we have been able to offer a range of artist led tours that have been really popular, including an open studio walking tour, a textile art tour with the Lady Mayoress and an urban art safari.

“I’d encourage anyone interested in applying to think big and help make Adelaide a great place to live and work.”

City Makers round two opens Monday 7th September with applications accepted until midnight, 26th October 2015.

Eligible applicants for City Makers include:

• ·  entrepreneurs
• ·  sole traders (if applying for building compliance funding)
• ·  registered businesses
• ·  artists in entertainment and performance spaces and studios
• ·  community groups
• ·  partnerships.

Ideas need to be based within the CBD and funding can be used for building compliance (accessibility, fire safety, noise attenuation requirements and heritage considerations) and/or placemaking (street furniture, public art and innovative activation concepts).

Source: News Release, Government of South Australia, 03 September, 2015

http://www.premier.sa.gov.au/images/news_releases/2015/15_09Sep/vibrantgrants.pdf