ECFA (The Estonian Cultural Foundation in Australia) is pleased to announce the following funding for projects enhancing Estonian culture, language and heritage across Australia.
Applications were received from groups in NSW, SA, VIC and WA.
Funds were allocated this year to:
- Adelaide Eesti Selts $1,140
- Ceridwen Dovey & Rowena Potts, Co-Creators = $1,500
- Estonian Archives in Australia $1,200
- Estonian Children’s Playgroup in Sydney $3,000
- Estonians in Newcastle $1,000
- Geelong Writer’s group $500
- Kino! (Estonian Society of Sydney Inc.) $700
- The Oaks Historical Society Inc, Wollondilly Heritage $TBC
- Melbourne Eesti Maja Coop $3,000
- Sõrve Sõbrad Parents Committee
- Estonian Sõrve Children’s Camp $6,000
- Hans Ots Award $4,000
Adelaide Eesti Selts
Vikerkaar is the Adelaide Eesti Selts dance group. Vikerkaar was formed in 1949 to perform at Eesti festivals and celebrations. The traditional dance group has existed all that time and took on the name Vikerkaar in the 1990’s as they felt the ‘rainbow’ represented who they are. The group consists of 15 men and women, together with 10 children. Some of the child dancers are quite young. The group consists of fluent Estonian speakers, minimal Estonian speakers and has recently welcomed young Estonian adults who have settled in Adelaide. The traditional costumes were either sourced directly from Estonia or have been produced by local seamstresses. Hence, the costumes are of great value to the local Estonian community.
Funding for 4 lockable steel cupboards to store the dance group’s traditional
costumes. The storage is required for both security and preserving the garments in mint condition.
Awarded $1,140
Ceridwen Dovey & Rowena Potts, co-creators
These independent film-makers Ceridwen Dovey and Rowena Pitt are making a short film ‘Musca’ about the constellations of the southern hemisphere night skies, inspired by the Estonian composer Urmas Sisask’s “Southern Sky” masterpiece.
Awarded $1,500
Estonian Archives in Australia
The Estonian Archives in Australia (EAA) was established by the Council of Estonian Societies in Australia in 1952. EAA is one of the four Estonian Archives existing outside Estonia and holds an important collection of material relating to the lives and achievements of Estonians living outside Estonia.
A grant has been awarded for postage of books surplus to the requirements of the archive to interested record repositories in Estonia.
Awarded $2,000
Estonian Children’s Playgroup in Sydney
This Sydney Estonian Children’s group meets weekly and promotes Estonian language, music and culture among Estonian families and strengthens the Estonian community in Sydney. The playgroup continues to be a place for Estonian families and children to meet, speak Estonian, sing, dance, and celebrate holidays.
Awarded $3,000
Estonians in Newcastle
Support for Estonian kids who live outside of Sydney to get acquainted with Estonian language and culture through songs and dances.
Awarded $1,000
The Geelong Writer’s group
Geelong Writers was established in 1993, with the aim to encourage literature, writing and writers in the Geelong region, including promotion of writing groups, writing workshops and the publications of local writers
The Geelong Writers group is looking to publish prose & poetry from local writers, members of the Baltic & Ukrainian communities et al. Azuria #10 ‘In Peace & in War’
Awarded $500
Kino! Community Library Project (Estonian Society of Sydney Inc.)
Kino! is the Sydney Estonian Society’s Estonian movie club Kino! already provides education and entertainment to the Sydney Estonian and broader community through fortnightly kino and retro-kino movie nights.
The project aims to create a substantive and accessible DVD library of Estonian contemporary and classic films with English subtitles.
Awarded $700
The Oaks Historical Society Inc, Wollondilly Heritage Centre & Museum
The Wollondilly Heritage Centre and Museum is a repository for archives, records and objects relating to the early development of the villages in Wollondilly Shire. The museum has an outstanding exhibition detailing the stories and items of the Estonian Community in Thirlmere.
Thirlmere was a significant and large Estonian village throughout the 20th century. Kungla was the main grocery store in the village centre. ECFA will contribute towards the cost of the restoration of this sign, which (we have been told) is heritage listed.
Awarded $TBC
Melbourne Eesti Maja Co-op
The project aims to digitise all the Melbourne Estonian House Co-op records so that we reduce the amount of paperwork stored, as well as having one location for all Estonian House Co-op Ltd records for easier access online.
Awarded $3,000
Sõrve Sõbrad Parents Committee
Sõrve has been running for over 60 years, and provides a rich cultural experience for
many young and adult Estonians, using language, dancing, singing, etc.
ECFA will help support the running costs of next year’s camp (1 – 8 January 2023)
Awarded $6,000
The Hans Ots Award is awarded to Sõrve for the purpose of supporting young people (and their families) from interstate to attend the camp.
Awarded $4,000
In addition to these grants, the ECFA has provided a loan of $10,000 to the Melbourne Estonian House Co-op to support legal work on scoping future options for Melbourne Estonian House.
