Artists and art projects around the Canberra region have received a cash injection of over $500,000.

The ACT Government has provided 15 artists and creative projects with one-off payments ranging between $8,000 and $50,000 each. Meanwhile, Screen Canberra and artsACT have also awarded funding to seven local screen projects.

The Arts Activities Funding scheme allows artists and groups to submit a project proposal which will be assessed by their peers, with funding to be granted twice a year. Applications are now open for the next round of submissions.

Arts Minister Tara Cheyne congratulated the successful artists, noting the projects will not only help to boost the local economy but will allow broader exposure for up-and-coming artists.

“As the sector continues its recovery, it’s important to support arts activities and projects that will travel well beyond our ACT borders,” Ms Cheyne said.

For local organisation A Gender Agenda, the funding will go a long way towards providing creative sanctuaries for transgender, intersex, and gender diverse community members. They plan to spend their portion hosting creative writing workshops.

Engagement coordinator Alistair Otto says the workshops will be held by a paid facilitator with lived experience, something that wouldn’t have been possible without the grant.

 “It means we can support our community to advocate for their own voices and create their own stories,” Mr Otto said.

Not only will the workshops provide a platform for participants to tell their stories, buy they will also be collated into an anthology which will be made available as a free downloadable pdf. Access to these stories can greatly benefit other trans, intersex and gender diverse people.

“The grant from artsACT supports us to be able to support others.”

The next round of funding is open until Sunday 31 July; for more information, head to the artsACT website.