Locally produced dance work bound for international acclaim
The Sunshine Coast Council RADF Grants round is open, closing March 31, with an online information session on February 19.
Two lonely booksellers find themselves standing on the edge of eternity hurtling towards the end of all things.
Together in their isolation, they spend their days frantically unearthing and preserving the last remnants of the books that remain, protecting the stories and memories of humankind.
Dancer on a table, LJ Projects, Labyrinth, Images by ArtsCoast
Labyrinth
This is Labyrinth, the work of choreographer Chloe Keating. Together with Melissa Lanham, they form LJ Projects, a dance theatre company specialising in immersive theatre, education and outreach projects.
In 2023, LJ Projects was commissioned by Sunshine Coast Council’s Horizon Festival to create a new work, which they performed in three bookshops during the 10-day multi-arts festival.
Now, thanks to an $8250 Sunshine Coast Council Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) Grant, LJ Projects will make further refinements to this immersive work, which drew acclaim from audiences.
Ms Keating said RADF funding would allow LJ Projects to lay a score over the original work and develop a marketing strategy ahead of the Adelaide Fringe Festival 2025 where it will be performed.
“We’ll also perform Labyrinth at Rosetta Books and Maleny Hall in February this year and have had interest from producers in the UK, so we are hoping to present there as well at Edinburgh in 2026.” Ms Keating said.
Books on a table, LJ Projects, Labyrinth, Images by ArtsCoast
October 2024 RADF funded projects
Council received 20 RADF Grants Program applications in the October 2024 round, with nine projects awarded a total of $72,333.
When asked about the process for applying for funding, Chloe said it wasn’t at all daunting and her main concern had been how to properly articulate her idea on paper.
“As artists you see the buds of a creation in 360-degree full potential technicolour, so how do you portray it in words to a panel who is seeing it for the first time?” Ms Keating said.
“My advice to anyone thinking of applying is to have other people read your application, and also to explain it, discuss it and write it down in as many different ways as you can think of until you are absolutely clear yourself.”
2025 RADF Funding
The next Sunshine Coast Council RADF Grants round opens February 3 and closes March 31, with an online information session on February 19. An afternoon of one-on-one in-person consults with a RADF Officer will be held on March 5.
RADF Grants support arts and culture-based projects and activities that align with the vision, values and goals of the Sunshine Coast Creative Arts Plan 2023 – 2038.
Sunshine Coast Council Community Portfolio Councillor David Law said the RADF Grants Program promoted the role and value of arts, culture and heritage as key drivers of diverse and inclusive communities and strong regions.
“The RADF program provides funding for the Sunshine Coast creative community to develop and deliver quality contemporary arts projects, develop skills and capacity, and grow audiences and engagement, contributing to our region's cultural vitality,” Cr Law said.
Dancer in studio, LJ Projects, Labyrinth, Images by ArtsCoast
“All applications must demonstrate how the project will directly benefit the arts ecology of the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area.
“I look forward to watching the journey of the successfully funded works, knowing that our Sunshine Coast RADF Grants Program helped make them happen.”
Dancer on a table with books, LJ Projects, Labyrinth - Images by ArtsCoast
Apply online
To find out more and to apply for funding, visit Council’s website and search for “Arts Funding”.
Online RADF Grants Information Session
To find out more about RADF Grants and learn our top grant writing tips book a spot at the online information session.
Free 30-minute One-on-one Consults
For help developing your project idea, planning your RADF Grant application, or gaining feedback on your draft submission, book a free 30-minute one-on-one consult with a RADF Officer.
Visit Council's website to find more online RADF Applicants information.
The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Sunshine Coast Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
Dancer in a studio, LJ Projects, Labyrinth - Images by ArtsCoast
Funded Projects October 2024
Cesar Artero Genaro (trading as D.I.V.E. Theatre Collective) - Theatre / Performance Art – Identity - $15,000
'Identity' is an immersive, multilingual theatre experience exploring complexities of identity, belonging and social constructs. It will be created/devised by a multicultural ensemble and performed at the Old Ambulance Station, Nambour, in May 2025.
Blending contemporary dance, visual art and poetic storytelling, audiences engage with performers—promoting artistic growth, inclusivity, collaboration.
Centacare Community Services - Theatre / Performance Art – Home - $9,900
‘Home’ is an original Queensland story created by an ensemble of inclusive artists, taking viewers on a journey into the lived experience of Queensland homelessness and its effect on family, friends and individuals.
‘Home’ will be performed across three shows at the Caloundra Events Centre.
Melissa Lanham (LJ Projects) - Dance – Labyrinth - $8,250
To remount 'Labyrinth' to layer a new score onto the work and complete a final development. A performance will take place at Rosetta Books and Maleny Hall in February 2025.
Further develop essential marketing strategy, box office projections and evaluation to tour Labyrinth to Adelaide Fringe Festival 2025.
Sunny Coast Rude Boys – Music – Recording of three songs - $10,000
Ska band Sunny Coast Rude Boys will record three original songs in Sunshine Coast ‘Glasshouse Studio’ with engineer Angus Woodhead, then mix and master at ‘Yama Nui Studio’ with producer Paulie Bromley.
Wild/flower Women (Susan Davis) - Design - Wildflowering by Design, Sunshine Coast Design Lab and exhibition - $9,370
This project will support an immersive Design Lab featuring local artist/designers working with artists from the ‘Wildflowering by Design’ touring exhibition.
The Design Lab will seed the development of new works and design products to be shown in October 2025.
Kerbside Collective – Interdisciplinary - Eddie Ray Final Development - $5,200
This project will support the final stage of the development of their new production ‘Eddie Ray – Silence of the Jams 2’, working alongside the musicians to create the live experience and document this to pitch to presenters for the second half of 2025.
Wave Raiders Band - Music - Recording of Wave Raiders' Debut EP - $5,000
Recording of EP at Red Engine Recording Studio with Producer, Steve James.
Robyn Brown – Music - Artist Mentorship - $4,950
Engage Red Chair Director Angie Dunbavan as mentor to develop artistic practice as an independent jazz singer and producer.
Shikani Sargent - Visual Arts - Professional Development and Residency - $4,663
Structured professional development program and mentorship to produce a new body of work during a residency at Lantana Space.
Development will be mentored by Dr Kellie O’Dempsey and Odessa Mahony-de Vries.