Budding rock musicians, visual artists, dancers and musical theatre creators are the first recipients of Sunshine Coast Arts Foundation’s GIFTED program support.

Chair Professor Jennifer Radbourne announced that the Foundation would contribute to seven diverse local projects from its GIFTED annual giving program that invests in talented artists to ensure their success and the artistic prosperity of the Sunshine Coast.

“We are delighted to be able to start assisting our region’s gifted local artists with contributions from our donors.
“Here on the Sunshine Coast we are so ‘gifted’ by the fabulous environment, a caring community and, most importantly with artists and creatives who are talented, innovative, entrepreneurial and engaging,” Professor Radbourne said.

The recipients are:

• Eumundi School of Rock, a free music education and mentoring program for young people, culminating in the end of year concert where School participants perform in vibrant rock bands alongside industry professionals.
• An ambitious new full-length contemporary dance work, Sand, by Courtney Scheu, in collaboration with internationally renowned visual artist Itamar Freed and esteemed Wakka Wakka and Kombumerri dance artist Katina Olsen, accompanied by an original score by international producer and sound artist Harel Tsemah.
• Lung Water, which weaves together theatre, dance, and sculpture by Ruby Donohoe for debut during Horizon Festival’s Homegrown Program in August 2021. GIFTED’s contribution will fund an ice glacier that will melt over the course of each performance.
• Poetical Inhabitants, a new dance theatre work by LJ Projects that explores the relationship we have with our homes, which will premiere during the Horizon Festival’s Homegrown Program in August 2021. Melissa Lanham, a contemporary dance artist will lead the choreography in collaboration with architect/designer Samantha Taylor who will create the ‘house’ structure for the work.
• Open Studios Sunshine Coast (20-28 March 2021) which features over 50 visual artists’ studios open to the public as well as artist workshops and presentations. In 2021 Open Studios Sunshine Coast (OSSC) will be a major arts tourism drawcard for the Sunshine Coast.
• A Girl’s Guide to World War – the Podcast, produced by Musical Theatre Australia. Maleny residents Aleathea Monsour and Katy Forde have re-created their Matilda Award-winning live musical theatre experience, A Girl’s Guide to World War, into a compelling podcast sharing the story of the Australian ‘lady doctors’ who saved lives on the frontline in World War One.
• Michelle Bucci, Director of Sunshine Coast dance company DANCELAB will develop a new performance piece to be showcased during THRIVE, a curated exhibition, performance and workshop program exploring the varied aspects of mental health and mental healthcare at Nambour’s Old Ambulance Station (Old Ambo) in November 2021.

The Gifted Campaign was launched in November 2020 with a very generous donation by Ferre De Deyne a SCAF Board Director, Sunshine Coast businessman, art collector and philanthropist.

Donations can be made to the GIFTED! campaign here.

Pictured are Aleathea Monsour, composer, left and Katy Forde, writer-lyricist, A Girl’s Guide to World War – The Podcast. (Image Luke Monsour).