When we say “grassroots” what we really mean is the people that make up our little corner of community. Without their committed support, Culture Bank would only be an idea. Here are some testimonies from people in our community:
“You can join as an individual for $10/month or as a family for $20/month. This is consistent philanthropy/support for the arts, done on a local level, and managed by people who know the local creative scene. Amy and I have been members for 2 years, been to a couple of decision dinners (which all members are invited to), and have seen a number of amazing projects, people and groups get supported. It is an organisation made up of people who want to make things happen. I cannot recommend this organisation enough. I think it is really, truly brilliant.” – Feargus Manning, Culture Bank member
“The Culture Bank grant we received proved to be a remarkable help. It assisted the events and enabled us to continue supporting the arts & music community in the Illawarra. It allowed us to support music and visual artists such as Donny Benet, Saskwatch, Good Morning, Solid Effort, Dippy, Sundog and Tinker to name a few, at Strawberry Boogie – our monthly event celebrating the diversity and strength of the local creative scene”. – Strawberry Boogie (project funded by Culture Bank 2017)
“THANK YOU Culture Bank for supporting the next stage of The Siren Project! It’s such an honour to be supported by your community to make art about and for that community. Myself, Aunty Barbara Nicholson, and Ali Smith have been working on the project for the past 18 months – this money will enable me to complete the show’s narrative structure in preparation for the development with composer Daryl Wallis and actors in July 2018”.- Ann-Louise Rentall (Culture Bank member and funding recipient)
“How great is Honk Oz? And Jobs For Women – the film? And the Wollongong Writers Festival? And Music Jam n Bread? All these projects have received support from Culture Bank Wollongong, a crowd funded organisation to support creative projects in our city. I give them ten bucks month, and with lots of us giving a small amount, they can do amazing work.” – Mithra Cox, local musician, Greens Councillor Wollongong Council & member of Culture Bank.
“The single most vital resource for making art is time. And the single hardest thing to get support for is time to spend making art. It takes an organisation like Culture Bank to have the vision to see that artists making art is where it all starts. Decisions about who Culture Bank supports are made by Culture Bank members, the real experts on our local community and culture.” – Ali Jane Smith, local poet and Culture Bank member and funding recipient.
“A huge thank you to Culture Bank for supporting HONK! Oz Festival of Street Music in 2018 (January 11-13). HONK! Oz is a free three-day spectacle featuring alternative community bands and related arts. The festival brings together 100+ visting and local musicians performing on the streets of Wollongong. The free workshops and performances rely wholly on the hospitality, goodwill and financial support of the Wollongong Community” – HONK! FESTIVAL
“With help from Culture Bank’s funding we have been able to put on regular gigs at various venues in Wollongong (Jane’s, Rad, Urge Records) and at these gigs we’ve been able to pay every single artist who plays. We have our second birthday show coming up in September at Rad which is a meaningful milestone for us, one we couldn’t have reached without Culture Bank!” -Pride Tide
Image: Culture Bank member, Aviva Sheb’a, Honk, photo: Andrew Marley
With great thanks, we honor some of our members listed here:
- Damien Bancks
- Di Bates
- Caro Baum
- Chris Bond
- Annie Bowen
- Louise Brand
- Jennifer Briscoe-Hough
- Alexander Brown
- Lizzie Buckmaster Dove
- Frances Burnham
- Terry Callan
- Linda Campbell
- Daniel Daly
- David Everitt
- Monique Ferguson
- Emma Ferner
- Michelle Forte
- Lesley Goldacre
- Denise Gracie
- Nick Guggisberg
- Misty Gurtala
- Andrew Haesler
- Belinda Hawker
- Faye Heininger
- Lisa Jackson
- Liz Jeneid
- Christina Kourea
- Ann Lehmann
- Sue Leppen
- Cookie Lloyd
- Lucia Parole
- Trish MacHugh
- Feargus Manning
- Caitlin Marshall
- Ann Martin
- Tania Maria Mastroianni
- Tessha Mearing
- Ekram Mulayim
- Mark O’Donnell
- Angela Raymond
- Susanna Rennie
- Michael Roxborough
- Carmel Schenke
- Lara Seresin
- Aviva Sheba
- Ali Jane Smith
- Lynn Tamsitt
- Linda Tucker
- Sharon Wall
- Prudence Watson
- Annette Wellings
- Sheryl Wiffen
- Chris Williams
- Tia Wilson
- Vyv Wilson
- Melinda Wishart
- Felicity Woodhill
- Sue Zweep
And many more to come…stay tuned!