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.
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, as well as at Rosetta Books and Maleny Hall in February.
Council received 20 RADF Grants Program applications in the October 2024 round, with nine projects awarded a total of $72,333.
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.
“All applications must demonstrate how the project will directly benefit the arts ecology of the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area.
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.
Centacare Community Services – Theatre / Performance Art – Home – $9900
‘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 to be performed 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, with 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 – $9370
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.
Kerbside Collective – Interdisciplinary – Eddie Ray Final Development – $5200
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 – $5000
Recording of EP at Red Engine Recording Studio with Producer, Steve James.
Robyn Brown – Music – Artist Mentorship – $4950
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 – $4663
Structured professional development program and mentorship by Dr Kellie O’Dempsey and Odessa Mahony-de Vries, to produce a new body of work during a residency at Lantana Space.
The next Sunshine Coast Council RADF Grants round opens 3 February and closes 31 March, with an online information session on 19 February and in-person consults with a RADF Officer will be held on 5 March.
To find out more visit Council’s website and search for “Arts Funding”.
