Revitalisation Grants
Our Revitalisation Grants Program was open from 11 October 2021 through to 8 November 2021, and was designed to help businesses, community groups and individuals rejuvenate our area after a tough few months in lockdown. Grants of up to $5,000 were available for projects that are to be undertaken by 31 March 2022.
For more information including scope of projects and assessment criteria, please refer to the Program Assessment Criteria and Guidelines.
Grant Recipients
Successful grant recipients 2021
Contact
For more information, please contact grants@woollahra.nsw.gov.au and/or call (02) 9391 7191.
Revitalisation Grants in Action
#paddolockdownart
Paddo Unlocked Art is a collaborative community art initiative building on the success of #paddolockdownart, which emerged as a creative community response to the 2021 lockdown. The project was the recipient of $5,000 of funding through the Woollahra Council revitalisation grants program, which was designed to help businesses, community groups and individuals rejuvenate the local Woollahra area after a tough few months in lockdown.
Paddo Unlocked Art documents the story of #paddolockdownart in a photobook, bringing together those involved for a community event at a gallery, and providing a digital blueprint documenting the 'how-to' for the next edition.
Over 8 weeks, more than 400 Paddington residents - school children, art teachers and local artists - created 590 artworks which were exhibited in the windows of more than 30 businesses including shops, pubs, cafes, galleries, law firms, creative agencies, and vacant retail properties. The photobook Paddo Lockdown Art is produced by #paddolockdownart initiator Barbara Gruber and designer Sylvia Weimer and was launched at the Saint Cloche Art Gallery in Paddington on 28 February 2022.
"I am delighted Woollahra Council supported this important creative community project in Paddington through our Revitalisation Grants Program. It was wonderful to see how public art transformed local shop windows, vacant shops and buildings and provided community connection, hope and joy during such a difficult time. For many of our young artists, to see their work on display and to have their creative talents publicly celebrated, has been inspirational to witness," said Susan Wynne, Mayor of Woollahra.
A beautiful limited edition copy of the Paddo Lockdown Art photo book is now available for purchase, as well as a digital version. For more details or if you would like to purchase the book please visit #paddolockdownart
Beginner Macrame with Ruth Shteinman
Weaver Ruth Shteinman hosted a beginner macrame workshop, supported by a Woollahra Council Revitalisation Grant.
During the workshop, Ruth introduced the four fundamental knots and participants were able to complete the session with their own hanging.
The workshop was held on Sunday 20 March 2022 at The National Council of Jewish Women.
"I think it's lovely for people to come together and share an experience. After lockdown and all the different challenges that everyone's been facing it's very nice to step into a different world and try something new. It boosts your confidence. After doing so many things home alone and on Zoom, I think that what comes out in a workshop - friendships, communication, community, sharing challenges and successes - is something we really need," said Ruth Shteinman.
Ruth Shteinman hosted a beginner macrame workshop, supported by a Woollahra Council grant
Deckchair Sunsets
Deckchair Sunsets is a local Neighbour Day initiative which started in 2013 with a vision of the local community coming together to share food and conversation to foster wellbeing and resilience.
In 2022 Neighbour Day is especially important - to revitalise connections between neighbours after Covid lockdowns. Everyone has been fraught for different reasons, so it's reassuring to come together to celebrate Neighbour Day.
Deckchair Sunsets is the recipient of funding through the Woollahra Council revitalisation grants program, which was designed to help businesses, community groups and individuals rejuvenate the local Woollahra area after a tough few months in lockdown.
"We started off with a few Deckchairs, picnic blankets and a single small trestle. Now we have a few tables for food and drinks and a marquee shade-cover to anchor the event. We all enjoy taking a couple of hours to catch up with the neighbours," said Deckchair Sunsets founder Angela Galgut.
"Over the years, The Reserve has gone from a drought stricken patch of brown grass into a luscious Native Garden for all to enjoy, thanks to several volunteer Community Gardeners.
"The warmth of communal spirit is always alive and well in our neighbourhood. We stand together to support each other in the face of challenges," said Angela.
Connecting with local community at Deckchair Sunsets
The benefits of Deckchair Sunsets
Angela explains that there are a number of reasons why Deckchair Sunsets was originally set up, including reaching out to people who live on their own, to avoid them being isolated as well as to utilise local greenspace as a neighbourhood hub for communal gatherings - thereby anchoring the community.
Angela said that there have been many benefits of these community gettogethers. She said that great friendships have been forged between residents from the different streets and some even socialise together outside of the Deckchair Sunsets events.
The neighbourhood events have built bridges between the different streets, creating a cohesive community who aim for a balanced, harmonious neighbourhood. Another positive spin-off being a communal native garden in Derby Street Reserve and street projects improving the amenity of the streets.
The spectacular sunset at Deckchair Sunsets
The Greatest Musical Concert
The NCJWA (National Council of Jewish Women Australia) was the recipient of $5,000 of funding through the Woollahra Council revitalisation grants program, which was designed to help businesses, community groups and individuals rejuvenate the local Woollahra area after a tough few months in lockdown.
The grant funding was used to organise and host a cultural community musical event with a high tea for 70 Woollahra seniors, planned in response to the social isolation caused by Covid-19. The aim of the concert was to support Woollahra’s vulnerable people by facilitating participation and engagement in an uplifting musical afternoon.
The NCJWA believes the aged community are anxious and have lost their confidence to mingle and socialise and the organisation hoped to provide the opportunity through music to uplift the spirits of the community lost during COVID.
An inspiring performance by the Sydney Jewish Choral Society
The Greatest Musical Concert, hosted on 6 March 2022, featured Chutney, a Klezmer Fusion Band: Their set was a spicy, high-energy mix of original tunes and modern twists on klezmer classics, with a dollop of tango, Dixieland and big band swing thrown in for good measure.
The audience was also treated to a performance by the Sydney Jewish Choral Society: Formed in 1986, the Sydney Jewish Choral Society is Sydney's premier Jewish mixed community choir. Using music as a bridge between and within the Jewish and wider communities, the choir aims to build goodwill and spread messages of harmony and tolerance.
"Without the Woollahra Council Revitalisation grant we could not have held this event. The funding was everything." Maxine Bachmayer, President NCJWA NSW
"So good to have got everyone out and about and enjoying themselves so much. Well done to all." Sherel Levy
"We couldn’t have funded the musicians or the transport without the Council grant – many thanks!" Wendy from NCJWA"