Glowing achievements during 2024 attest to artist Fiona McDonald’s ability to develop her work and inspirations, with a little impetus from a Surf Coast Shire Council creative grants program.
Fiona is a Torquay-based multidisciplinary artist with a passionate focus on combining use of ceramics and felted wool.
While more than a decade as an artist had provided many achievements and exhibition highlights, a successful application for one of Council’s DEVELOP creative exploration grants in 2023 helped open new horizons.
The annual DEVELOP program aims to support creative exploration by individuals or groups, allowing successful participants to pursue directions, ideas and concepts.
“My DEVELOP grant assisted me with the purchase of a piece of equipment and materials – a slab roller and porcelain – enabling me to deepen my practice and increase the size of my works through consistent testing of the clay,” Fiona said.
“Using clay as a 3D medium, it allowed me to test larger pieces for use in sculptural works later in the year.”
And accolades duly followed, with Fiona exhibiting as a finalist in the National Emerging Art Prize, Fisher’s Ghost Ceramic Award, North Queensland Ceramic Award and Deakin Small Sculpture Award.
Her work also featured in the Brunswick Street Gallery small works art prize exhibition, Torquay Hoop Gallery’s Tangibility of Time and Memory exhibition and in Geelong’s Yarra Street Window Gallery.
“Through this grant, I was able to further develop my ideas around time and memory,” Fiona said.
“I created sculptural works that I exhibited at the Lightbox in Torquay and consequently at the Hoop Gallery, as well as the fortyfivedownstairs gallery and the Brunswick Street Gallery in Melbourne.
“I have also had works selected for a number of awards.
“Receiving the grant was a fabulous step towards achieving all of this as it allowed me to continue to explore my themes.”
Council’s 2025 DEVELOP creative grants program is open for applications until 3 March via surfcoast.vic.gov.au/DEVELOP.
Cr Libby Stapleton said individuals can apply for grants of up to $3,000, and not-for-profit creative groups can apply for up to $5,000.
“These grants can be invaluable in helping artists pursue ideas or methods which might always have been just out of reach,” Cr Stapleton said.
“We encourage emerging, mid-career and established artists to take the positive step and apply for a DEVELOP grant which might bring new horizons into view.”
Fiona McDonald said even the DEVELOP application process was productive.
“It really does help clarify what it is you want to achieve as an artist,” Fiona said.
“I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone tempted to apply to do it.
“It is an amazing grant to receive both financially and to feel that you are seen as a creative, which is so lovely – a warm embrace!”