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Sound sculpture delights eyes and ears
by Heather Wallace
If you go down to the Bundaleer woods today you're sure of a big surprise! A walk through the Bundaleer Forest, South Australia-the first plantation forest established in Australia-brings visitors to the unique Musical Sculpture that delights both the visual and aural senses.
Combining sight and sound media was the vision of sculptor Marcus Possingham and musical instrument maker Jon Madin. The artists used local artefacts and a range of discarded materials, such as old sheep troughs, tuned pipes, spring-connected resonators and tubular bells, to create a unique multi-sensory artform in harmony with its serene surroundings.
The entire Bundaleer community has been involved in the project, including stone masons, metal workers, woodcutters and farmers. The Australian Government, through the Regional Arts Fund, contributed $15 000 for community workshops on art and music that helped develop local talent involved in the creation of the artwork.
The sculpture was launched in March during the Bundaleer Festival by the Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp. The Festivals Australia program provided an additional $8000 to the 2003 Bundaleer Festival and the construction of the Musical Sculpture.
The festival promotes Bundaleer Forest as a venue for performances of dance, theatre and music. Festivals Australia and the Regional Arts Fund are Australian Government initiatives. The Regional Arts Fund supports the arts in regional and remote areas, in partnership with state and territory regional arts organisations representing hundreds of local regional arts councils covering the length and breadth of Australia.
More information is available from the relevant regional arts organisations in your state or territory. You can discuss your project with the staff of these organisations who can also provide you with information on their grant rounds, funding guidelines and application forms. A full list of contacts is available from the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts website at www.dcita.gov.au. Look under 'Arts' then 'Regional Arts Fund'.
Funding the festivities
Festivals contribute to high levels of community participation and have the potential to promote a strong sense of regional and community identity.
Australians are set for some fun with total funding of $453 727 for 35 grants under the latest round of Festivals Australia-a cultural grants program that provides assistance to regional and community festivals for the presentation of quality cultural activities.
This round of grants will see a range cultural activities at a variety of festivals across Australia, including:
- four concerts over three days by the Tank Stream String Quartet at the Bangalow Music Festival;
- workshops run by CircusWorks for local participants at the Two Rivers Arts and Cultural Festival in Gunnedah;
- Gascoyne's 2003 'Coasting the Outback' Community Celebration;
- school holiday and after school activities and workshops in visual, circus and performing arts at Festival Cairns.
For more information about Festivals Australia, or to access the list of the latest round of grants, click on 'Grants and Funding' at www.dcita.gov.au.