The Creative Collective Memory Arts (CCMA) project is a new venture for the Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC) which seeks to capture the collective experience of COVID-19 through art making. Funded through the Libraries for Health and Wellbeing Program; an initiative of State Library Victoria (for the Library Board of Victoria) and Public Libraries Victoria under the banner of the Statewide Public Library Development Projects 2020 – 2023, the project aims to create an arts based memory project detailing our community’s experience through COVID-19.

We are seeking to engage diverse local artists to facilitate workshops across the GRLC service area, both in our libraries and in venues of our partnering organisations. Artists will lead the creation of artworks that tells the story of our lived experience of COVID-19. At the project’s conclusion, created artworks will be digitised and made available via GRLC’s website. Selected pieces from each workshop will also be displayed in a travelling exhibition across the library service and partner organisations providing opportunities for communities to come together, to reflect and to share their own experiences with others.

This is a unique opportunity for local artists to lead our community in sharing their experiences of this particular time in history – a global pandemic that has changed our lives forever. It is also a chance to bring people together, to connect, to create, and to find joy in free expression; capturing our communities' stories and resilience, and building a memory bank for future generations.

GRLC will accept applications from artists at all stages of their career, of all genres and mediums, with demonstrated experience in community arts practice. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations artists, and artists of all abilities and cultures.

Artists will receive a stipend of $1000 towards facilitation and material costs:

$500 towards preparation and facilitation of workshop
$500 towards materials.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• Artists who reside in the service area of the GRLC: City of Greater Geelong, Golden Plains Shire, Surf Coast Shire, Colac Otway Shire and the Borough of Queenscliffe.
• Artists in all stages of their career (emerging, mid-career and established).
• Innovative and engaging art forms and practice.
• Artists with demonstrated experience in community arts practice, able to facilitate a small art-making project with a group, to enhance creativity and community connections.
• Applicants with experience engaging rural, remote and/or diverse communities will be viewed positively.
• Employees of the Geelong Regional Library Corporation are not eligible to apply.

WHEN APPLYING, PLEASE ENSURE:

1. The inclusivity and accessibility of your workshop for our diverse communitities.
2. Potential of proposed workshop to engage with and involve the community in a public conversation about COVID-19 and the effects on our collective experience.
3. Your enthusiasm for and prior engagement in community arts practice.