SMSA (Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts)
SMSA’s Grants Program Recipients for 2017
Sydney Story Factory — $5,000
The Sydney Story Factory is a not-for-profit creative writing program for young people, developed in collaboration with the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy (NASCA). The grant of $5,000 will assist in running a 6 week creative writing workshop called Introduce Yourself Koori Style. Local Indigenous students from Alexandria Park Community School, Marrickville High and Tempe High will be guided to tell their story and imagine their futures while also exploring different ways of paying respect to family, ancestors and country. They will perform and share their finished works with the community.
http://www.sydneystoryfactory.org.au/
Fighting Chance Australia — $6,000
Fighting Chance Australia is a not-for-profit organisation created to offer vital work experience to students with profound disabilities. This grant will enable 4 students to participate in the organisation’s 10 week work experience program that designed to help their students develop their skills, increase their confidence and give them practical preparation for the world of work through their 2 social enterprises. Avenue and Jigsaw.
http://fightingchance.org.au/
The Julian Ashton Art School — $6,000
Established in 1890, the Julian Ashton Art School is Australia’s oldest continuous fine art school. Based in The Rocks, their former students include Sir William Dobell, John Olsen, Brett Whiteley, Thea Proctor and many other prominent Australian artists.
http://julianashtonartschool.com.au
SMSA’s Grants Program Recipients for 2016
The Goulburn Strings Project — $15,000
Grants of $10,000 and a further $5,000 were awarded in 2016 to support the Goulburn Regional Conservatorium’s Goulburn Strings Project, a musical education program for beginner strings students at Goulburn Public School. Many of the students involved have disadvantaged backgrounds and/or face extreme learning and behavioural challenges related to ADHD, autism spectrum and foetal alcohol syndrome. The Goulburn Strings Project has seen a measurable and marked improvement in outcomes for the children involved and their parents.
http://www.thegrc.com.au/grc-strings-project
The Julian Ashton Art School — $6,000
Established in 1890, the Julian Ashton Art School is Australia’s oldest continuous fine art school. Based in The Rocks, their former students include Sir William Dobell, John Olsen, Brett Whiteley, Thea Proctor and many other prominent Australian artists.
http://julianashtonartschool.com.au
The Scholars for 2017 (awarded in November 2016) are:
Full-time Scholarship Timothy Perkins
Part-time Scholarship Christian Holmes
Moorambilla Voices — $10,000
A grant for $10,000 was awarded to Moorambilla Voices in July. Moorambilla Voices is great initiative that connects talented kids in rural and remote areas with some of Australia’s finest composers, musicians, choreographers and regional artists. The program draws young people from around 70 schools across a region which represents the most isolated and disadvantaged area of NSW.. More than one third of participants are Indigenous. The grant supports their Moorambilla Arts Pathways (MAP) initiative which provides senior Moorambilla Voices participants with one-on-one mentoring relationships.
https://moorambillablog.wordpress.com
The National Council of Women (NSW) — $3,000
The National Council of Women (NSW) is a non-government umbrella organisation with broadly humanitarian and educational objectives that celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2016. The $3,000 grant has been used to fund National Council of Women (NSW) Australia Day Award scholarships for young women who are excelling in their studies.
http://www.ncwnsw.org.au
The 2016 recipients (to be presented in January 2017) are:
Alexandra Heron PhD candidate, Work and Organisation Studies, Business School, University of Sydney
Lisa Oyston PhD Candidate, Functional Genomics Lab, Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Peri Tobias PhD candidate, Faculty of Agriculture, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Sydney
Pitt Street Poets — $4,000
Pitt Street Poetry is a specialist Sydney-based poetry publishing house founded in 2012 to publish contemporary Australian poetry and selected reprints of modern Australian classics. Their published poets include such well-known names as Chris Wallace-Crabbe, Luke Davies, Peter Goldsworthy, Geoff Page, John Foulcher and Ron Pretty, plus leading lights of the new generation such as Anthony Lawrence, Melinda Smith, Jakob Ziguras and Eileen Chong. The grant will support the production and promotion of new books of Australian poetry.
http://pittstreetpoetry.com
WEA Sydney — $9,900
Established in 1913, WEA (Workers’ Educational Association) Sydney’s mission is to provide adults with stimulating and varied educational activities which develop their knowledge, understanding and skills.The SMSA has awarded a grant of $9,900 to WEA Sydney to assist with relocation of classes during the redevelopment of their adjoining site and in recognition of the close relationship between our two organisations.
http://www.weasydney.com.au
Past Recipients
SMSA’s Grants, Prizes and Donations for 2015
SMSA’s Grants, Prizes and Donations for 2014
Grants, Donations & Prizes
On occasion, the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts makes grants to educational and cultural bodies in accordance with our values.
A decision was made in 2013 to limit future grants to $10,000 or less to ensure that Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts can provide broader assistance where warranted.
How to apply
Organisations wishing to apply for a grant may request a form from the Secretary using the link below.
Potential applicants are welcome to contact the Secretary on 02 9262 7300 to discuss the Grants program.
