An art group has secured nearly $7000 from Grant District Council to fund the production of a documentary.

Marine botanist and local artist Sally O’Connor along with artist Jo Fife made a request to elected members at council’s July monthly meeting.

Representing the Holdfast Limestone Coast Art Project, the lead artists were invited to make a presentation to council explaining where the funds would be allocated.

The artists said the funds will be used specifically towards producing a documentary about seaweed found on local beaches.

The project had previously secured an initial $850 in seed funding from council to assist in kickstarting the project and more recently were successful in being granted a further $7000.

“Jo and I began research years ago to work out how we can share the science of our rich algae resource and to present it through art,” Ms O’Connor said.

“To give people the greater knowledge of what we have on our doorstep”.

Ms O’Connor said the purpose of the documentary was to highlight some of the prominent species of seagrasses and algae in the area and its seasonal variations.

“We decided we would use community engagement and present workshops to enable people to look at what we have got in a different way than just seeing it splattered on the beach as wrack,” she said.

“We believe creating environmental awareness we are also supporting environmental preservation and biodiversity.”

Ms O’Connor said it was valuable to align the documentary with council’s strategic goals of wellbeing, community participation, first nations citizens and science.

Meanwhile, Ms Fife said the local area hosts the most algae species in the world, with over 1200 varieties.

“The reason for our abundant flora is due to the Bonney upwelling, and also the lack of ice age influences,” she said.

The documentary film will have a pre-release for council before it is viewed by the public at the final exhibition.

The final exhibition is a presentation of conceptual work with various representations of algae by the lead artists.

These will be showcased at the Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre.

Following the presentation Councillor Gavin Clarke applauded the project and supported the recommendation to provide the funding request.

“I’m happy to hear there is local community engagement with 50 people involved already,” Cr Clarke said.

“Council have the potential to get on board and promote it to residents to get involved.

“It’s interesting the science and has a broader appeal to people who are not an art audience.

“I think it’s value for money to produce film.”

Prior to voting on the recommendation, Ms Fife said the documentary probably would not go ahead without council funding.

Cr Karen Turnbull asked for clarification there would be no further commitment to an ongoing amount.

The artists assured this was the only request.

Cr Barry Kuhl seconded the motion and was subsequently carried.

Council’s chief executive Darryl Whicker said a budget review would need to be undertaken.

“The timing is just out of our budget consultation. We would need a budget review,” he said.

Mr Whicker expressed his support for the project stating “linking to arts and culture is notoriously difficult for council”.

“It’s fair to say communities do it better,” he said.

“They (Holdfast) have hit the mark.”

While the presentation was to highlight the documentary, the artists also reflected on other aspects of the project that has been taking place.

The Holdfast Art Project has delivered five community workshops and guest speakers.

Drawing, cyanotype, etching, linocut, printmaking workshops and guest speakers including Boandik elders Uncle Ken Jones and Aunty Michelle Jacquelin-Furr, playwright Caleb Lewis, artists Trude Gerty and Sue Shaw.

These have been made possible with the group successful in obtaining funding from Australian Government Regional Arts Fund, Country Arts SA and Limestone Coast Landscape Board.

An exhibition of works from the workshops will be launched at Port MacDonnell Community Complex today and concludes on September 29.

In the meantime, environmental anthropologist Zoe Brittain from Deakin University will present a talk followed by a question-and-answer session on August 18.

An artist talk will be held on September 3.