The Country Arts Foundation will be launched this month catapulting Country Arts SA’s presence into the not-for-profit sector, with a Mount Gambier woman as a director.
To celebrate the start of the group’s philanthropic engagement with the community, the launch will be held in Adelaide simultaneously with two other regions.
The Foundation Board Directors are Rod Jones (Chair), Mount Gambier’s Kate Facy, Sonya Hender, Petria Ladgrove, Michael Luchich, Robin Matters, Paula Murray, and Anthony Peluso.
Ms Facy has lived and worked in regional South Australia for more than 40 years.
As an experienced executive in the financial services industry, Ms Facy is a generous contributor to her Limestone Coast community through various boards and committees, and passionate about the growth and vibrancy of regional communities.
Country Arts SA has been advancing artists’ careers, connecting audiences with inspiring performances, exhibitions and screenings and working alongside regional communities to reflect their lives and stories in art across South Australia since 1993.
The Country Arts Foundation fosters philanthropic giving to underpin the vital work of Country Arts SA.
The Country Arts Foundation is comprised of volunteer community leaders and philanthropists who work with Country Arts SA Board and staff to raise much-needed funds to support programs and artists.
It is committed to establishing an endowment that will be self-sustaining.
Its core focus is to bolster and maintain the vibrancy and culture of regional South Australia.
Foundation Chair Rod Jones said with the Country Arts SA Board and staff, there was a wealth of knowledge and experience that covered regional South Australia.
“It is an honour to work alongside this group of people to raise much-needed funds to support regional arts and arts programs that help rural and regional communities to thrive,” he said.
“We are unlike any other arts not for profit with regional communities at the heart of all we do.”
Country Arts SA chief executive Anthony Peluso said Country Arts SA existed to support artists and communities right across regional South Australia to thrive by engaging with the arts in their everyday lives.
“We work with First Nations artists and communities to safeguard, celebrate and present their living culture,” he said.
“We partner with the diversity of people who live and work in regional towns and cities to create ambitious arts experiences that celebrate local stories.
“The work of the foundation will ensure that all regional South Australians can continue to connect with art, especially our First Nations peoples, young people and those who are isolated as well as those for whom arts and culture is an intrinsic part of their lives for many years to come.”
The foundation will be launched on November 30 at The Lab, Light Square, a not-for-profit social enterprise that supports artists and community.
The regions will be beamed into The Lab’s 50m2 of hyper-real wraparound LED screens for conversations between ABC Radio Adelaide’s Sonya Feldhoff and artists Juanella McKenzie in Port Augusta, Sera Waters in Adelaide and Ms Facy in Mount Gambier.
