Punctum Inc's Pavilion Project Chosen For Future Makers For Change Program

Punctum Inc's Pavilion Project has been selected as one of nine game changing projects across the state joining forces with community organisations to help tackle some of the state's biggest challenges with support from the Victorian Government's new Future Makers for Change program.

The nine projects will showcase the powerful role creativity can play in driving social change.

The Pavilion Project will create a new artistic, social and civic space to be installed in public parks in Bendigo and Castlemaine. Over the next 20 months, it will be developed by Punctum Inc in partnership with the Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services, and will be designed, programmed and operated in collaboration with members of the local South Sudanese, Karen and Hazara communities.

Jude Anderson, Punctum's Artistic Director is thrilled and honoured that the Pavilion Project was selected as part of the Future Makers for Change Program.
"We're very excited to be working in collaboration with the wonderful team at Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services, Multicultural Arts Victoria through their Emerge program in Bendigo, and with members of the local South Sudanese, Karen and Hazara communities. Having worked with members of these communities on previous projects this is a fantastic opportunity to extend and deepen our connection. We're super keen to begin work on the Pavilion Project which will build and celebrate strong cultural connections and professional pathways with and for the many talented residents whose cultural origins contribute such a wealth of knowledge and diversity to our region."

Kate McInnes, Executive Officer at Multicultural Services said,
"Multicultural communities have strong traditions of art and art-making. This is an opportunity for three communities to share their cultures, traditions and art. I am very excited to see what this project creates and how it evolves as community gets involved."

An initiative of the Creative State strategy, Future Makers for Change is part of a new Social Impact program, a cross-government initiative to support creative projects that complement government efforts in areas including family violence, gender equality, social cohesion and mental health.

Supported projects range from the creation of a new visual arts studio that aims to unlock the creative talents of young African-Australians in the Footscray region while providing new career pathways, to a project led by St Martins Youth Arts Centre that will create a series of films that address the stigmatisation of young transgender people.

Each project will be delivered as a collaboration between creative practitioners and partners with on the ground expertise and each project will have access to an evaluation partner who will track the development and progress of the project, gathering data about how the creative activity has created change in the community.

To find out more about Punctum visit www.punctum.com.au.