The Australia Council for the Arts has announced a total of more than A$1 million in grants awarded by its Community Cultural Development (CCD) Board under the funding categories 'New Work', 'Presentation and Promotion', and 'Skills and Arts Development'. In explaining the grants, newly appointed Chair of the CCD Board, Christopher Tassell, commented: ‘If a project is for and from the community, it will involve aspects of that community's cultural life and will have community development and artistic outcomes. Such a project can be empowering by solving problems and addressing issues through arts practice.’ Tassell commended all successful applicants on the quality and diversity of their proposals, and drew attention to the role of collaborations between professional artists and communities in tackling issues such as regional sustainability, Reconciliation and the environment. ‘I am particularly pleased by the role these projects are playing in engendering a prouder, more supportive, healthy and involved community,’ he said. The 46 successful recipients are, as follows: Accessible Arts Inc (NSW), NSW ($30,000) 'Market to Me' is a multimedia theatre project devised and performed by young people with mixed abilities that explores their impact on and understanding of the youth market place. Auburn Community Development Network Inc, NSW ($29,955) Five artists from refugee backgrounds will travel to Woomera to work directly with the Woomera community to produce a video and multimedia installation exploring contemporary refugee discourse. Camden Haven Adult & Community Education Inc, NSW ($11,300) Using a collaborative design and community consultation process, the project will develop landscape and cultural herritage interpretation masterplan for Camden Head Pilot station. Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, NSW ($12,830) The project is a series of artist run skills based workshops for Goulburn and district youth to design make and install mosaics for the entrance and the table tops for the newly established Youth Centre. Australian Theatre for Young People, NSW ($19,600) 'Operation Pilbara' is a continuing collaboration between ATYP and Karratha Youth Theatre. Two artists will work in partnership with KYT on a wide range of CCD activities throughout the region culminating in a large scale community performance event. The Empty Frame, NSW ($35,120) A new new multi-arts community theatre piece will be developed and created by women from different cultural backgrounds living in Wagga Wagga. The final performance will take place at 'The Manor' guest house and will explore the womens' experiences and perspectives on making a home and immigration. UTS Centre for Popular Education, NSW ($15,000) A practitioner-written book, entitled Youth Arts and Social Change, celebrating the diversity of Australian youth arts practices for community change. Virus Media Pty Ltd, NSW ($27,900) Drama and creative scriptwriting workshops with Arabic youth in Western Sydney. Wauchope Chamber of Commerce and Industry, NSW ($10,490) Two artists and a graphic designer will work with the Wauchope community to produce banners that reflect and celebrate local identity. Artcore, QLD ($21,000) Community workshops for votive boat building to float during the Soul Afloat Festival. The project will provide forum wherein people can express their sadness surrounding their loss of connections with homelands, heritage and ancestors. Hungry Hill Youth Arts Centre, QLD ($23,385) 'Start up' is a comprehensive skills development project for young people in computer based music and video creation, production and presentation, located at the new Hungry Hill Youth Arts Centre. Outback Arts Association Inc, QLD ($26,990) A 12-month series of workshops leading to two exhibitions and the development of an arts and crafts stall for women from the Salvation Army shelter, the Endeavour Foundation and Indigenous women elders. Queensland Biennial Festival of Music Pty Ltd, QLD ($25,000) The community of Winton Shire and artists will create the world's first musical fence and a new musical work and performance at the Queensland Biennal Festival of Music 2003. Therese Nolan-Brown, QLD ($7,000) Program of professional development to research and explore new public art models in the USA through diverse host organisations, and attendance at the 'Art of Dissent' conference in Melbourne. Advance Kingscote Association, SA ($20,415) The creation of a contemporary scuplture to convey the importance of Reeves Point historic site involving the Kangaroo Island community and local youth. Feast Adelaide Lesbian & Gay Cultural Festival, SA ($22,150) Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender young people from Adelaide will work with emerging professional theatre workers to explore issues surrounding adoption and sexuality. Two performance works will be produced for Feast's youth focus for 2002. Kapunda Murals/Signage/Banners Project Group, SA ($15,791) To create murals, banners and signage that celebrates the culture and history of Kapunda that will hang in the main street. The project will bring together professional artists and old and new Kapunda residents across generations. No Strings Attached Theatre of Disability, SA ($15,900) 'Catching the Juice' will explore life's purpose through the development of five work-in-progress performances by young people in detention and with a disability. A forum and a film work will also be developed. Restless Dance Company Inc, SA ($29,800) 'Home' is a ten-week dance and music theatre workshop program for young people with and without an intellectual disability living in Adelaide, exploring issues of independent accommodation. Northern Suburbs Community Centre Inc, TAS ($17,300) 'Yelling the Edge' is a youth performance project in Rochlea, providing opportunities for young people to have a practical experience of different forms of performance while exploring their ideas, experiences and issues. Association of Jews from C I S Shalom Inc, VIC ($19,335) A reconciliation project that through the eyes and voices of the community expresses notions of identity, belonging and culture amongst recently arrived Russian Jewish immigrants in Melbourne. Brimbank City Council, VIC ($24,640) Theatre/music development with local migrant communities leading to a performance. It will create opportunities for community members from diverse backgrounds to work with artists in composition, storytelling and theatre making. CERES, VIC ($28,000) Seeking Santuary, Stories of Migration will develop the migration parallels between people and Kingfishers through theatre and storytelling. The project will be the featured performance at the ninth Return of the Sacred Kingfisher Festival. Carmelina Di Guglielmo, VIC ($22,867) Ballo Licio is a theatrical storytelling event incorporating dance, music and performance by members of the Italian Senior Citizen community, revolving around stories of dance and courtship rituals. Cedar Watch, VIC ($25,400) Professional artists working with the Lebanese community on artworks addressing human rights issues. City of Port Phillip, VIC ($17,014) The project will develop songwriting and music skills and promote new work by four existing bands for people with mental illness. DVA Theatre Co Inc, VIC ($25,132) A production of Brecht's Threepenny Opera performed by actors with intellectual disabilities incorporating singing and live music. Dandenong Ranges Music Council Inc, VIC ($20,000) 'Change and Sustainability', a community music and performance project. The aim of the project is to create music and visual arts work exploring how the park meets the challenges of change and sustainability. Footscray Community Arts Centre Ltd, VIC ($11,600) 'Flow' explores the cultural resonances of ideas of 'the river', through community writing workshops.