Grant District Council will not financially support a local artist group to engage a consultant to facilitate a workshop.

At council’s recent ordinary meeting, elected members were presented with an application from local artist group Holdfast Art.

The group requested $850 to deliver the Holdfast Art Project – Project Planning Workshop.

However, some councillors felt the application lacked detail and subsequently did not want to commit to providing financial assistance without further information from the group.

It was resolved at the meeting that a spokesperson from Holdfast Art be invited to present a deputation to council to further discuss the application.

Following a meeting with a spokesperson, councillors intend to reconsider the request to provide financial assistance.

Given that Holdfast Art is not incorporated, South East Arts Society which is located in Mount Gambier, have auspiced the application for financial assistance.

In a report tabled at council’s recent meeting, community engagement coordinator Hayley Rowe reported the application was to engage a consultant to facilitate a project planning workshop.

The aim of the workshop is to engage Monica Hart from Pique Creative for two-day project planning.

Ms Hart is an arts consultant and project coordinator from Mount Gambier and it is intended she will work with visual artists to develop a multi-year project plan.

It is anticipated that following the completion of the workshop the project plan will be used to support future funding applications.

Ms Rowe said the group would seek future funding from Regional Arts Fund, Country Arts SA, Mount Gambier City Council and Arts SA.

In addition, Ms Rowe said the project may seek further funding from council following the development of the project plan.

It was reported that council has not provided any specific budget allocation for this project, however council corporate service director Gary Button said it could be made available.

A spreadsheet listing where the funds would be allocated was supplied with the application.

In total the group would be seeking $7000 from Grant District Council.

The funding would be to get the project to happen rather than for the actual project.

Lead artist Sally O’Connor said the Holdfast Art project would have a focus on the community of Port MacDonnell.

“Holdfast Art project is an innovative arts project that will encompass science, culture and the environment,” she said.

“A key aspect will be the sharing of knowledge between artists, interested individuals and community groups.

“Through research, engagement and creative development, the artists will produce and facilitate a body of experimental and conceptual work.

“This will include printmaking, paintings, textiles, sculpture, photographs, installation and a short documentary with Boandik elder Uncle Ken Jones.

“The artists are confident there will be some stimulating and far-reaching developments that will arise throughout the journey of the project.”

Ms O’Connor said the project would add to the vitality of the Port MacDonnell environment which was highlighted in the application.

“Enabling public awareness of the marine botany and other environmental aspects of the foreshore, that have not been studied in this way before,” she said.

“The lead artists and project coordinator bring an extensive artistic and professional network to the project, which will provide the project with a broad reach.

“The project will provide several local artists with creative and skills development opportunities and a local cultural advisor with the opportunity to guide project activity.”

Meanwhile, Ms O’Connor said artists would produce and facilitate an underwater film and documentary that would be exhibited at the Port MacDonnell Community Complex.

It is intended several more planning sessions will occur throughout the life of the project.

During council’s meeting Cr Gavin Clarke took the opportunity to express his views on the project.

“The outcome of the project looks fantastic. If these artists are to create work in our region and document it and create stories will be of immense value,” he said.

“It sounds like a big project. To get a project like that off the ground you have to get support.

“You have to do periods of research and development. Maybe we have to get a bit more clarification. I’m excited about the potential of this project.”

Crs Gillian Clayfield and Megan Dukalskis expressed their concerns around the financial assistance, in particular request for further assistance in the future.

During discussion Cr Shirley Little suggested the funding assistance be removed from the recommendation and that council invite a spokesperson to speak further on the matter to council.