Four Hepburn Shire artists will share in more than $1.5 million in grants from the latest round of the Victorian Government’s Creative Projects Fund, which is supporting 115 artists and small creative businesses across the state.

Fine art photographer Marcelle Bradbeer, artists Bek Saltmarsh and Aleks Danko, and experimental opera producer Irene Holub have each received funding to pursue new projects that span visual arts, performance, and community storytelling.

Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas said the funding will boost local jobs, drive innovation and provide new opportunities for Hepburn creatives.

“The Creative Projects Fund is a welcome investment in Hepburn’s creative talent,” said Ms Thomas. “It supports local jobs, fosters innovation and brings our stories to life. Congratulations to all of our local recipients – I look forward to seeing their projects take shape and the positive impact they will have on our community.”

Hepburn recipients and their projects include:

  • Marcelle Bradbeer has received an Uncovering Talent grant to undertake a residency at the Fish Factory in Iceland. Her Climate Adaptation Photography Project will explore how communities adapt to a changing climate through photography, culminating in a Victorian exhibition.
  • Bek Saltmarsh also received an Uncovering Talent grant for Un-weaving Uniformity, a textile-based project that challenges the conformity of school uniforms. Bek will recreate traditional plaid patterns using Aboriginal and loom weaving techniques, reclaiming and transforming the uniform as a symbol.
  • Aleks Danko, a long-time Daylesford resident and acclaimed sculptor, received a Projects grant to support the creation of A(GAP)E – A Verklempt Snare, an exhibition planned for 2026 at the McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery. The project will cover material and production costs for this ambitious new body of work.
  • Irene Holub was awarded a Projects grant for Manifesto of Silences – 1880, an experimental opera that explores the historical impact of the 1881 Milan Conference on the deaf community. The work will use innovative performance methods to engage diverse audiences and highlight the cultural consequences of suppressing sign language.

The Creative Projects Fund is part of the Victorian Government’s broader investment in the state’s $41 billion creative industries sector, which employs more than 327,000 workers. One-third of this year’s recipients are based in regional or outer-metropolitan areas.

Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks said the fund helps amplify new voices and ideas across the state.

“The Creative Projects Fund is part of our work to back the careers of local artists and creative workers, foster new ideas and voices, and bring diverse creative opportunities to Victorians of all ages,” said Mr Brooks.

Projects funded in this round span literature, design, music, fashion, film, dance, theatre and more. Several initiatives are also driving sustainability and innovation, including the development of a modular retail fit-out and a fashion swatch library that pairs fabric samples with QR-coded digital information.

Special funding streams were also included to improve access and equity for First Peoples, Deaf and Disabled creatives, and those who have not previously received Creative Victoria support.

For more information and the full list of recipients, visit creative.vic.gov.au.

This article is based on a media release from the office of Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas.