From the Coorong to Coober Pedy, the Flinders Ranges to Port Lincoln, the Fund enables Ku Arts to provide tangible and necessary support to emerging artists and those leading the next generation. Overcoming barriers of equity and access, including the prohibitive cost of freight, the Artist Materials Fund champions artists’ agency, self-determination and supports cultural practice. 

The full amount of donated funds will be used to purchase and deliver quality art materials to artists living and working in regional and remote communities across South Australia, supporting them to  to make a sustainable living and have every opportunity for career success.

“Having access to the art supplies provided by Ku Arts was very beneficial to not only myself, but also my little family. Living in Port Augusta there isn’t anywhere here, or in the nearby region that we can access quality art supplies. Without this assistance from Ku we would not have much art supplies to continue our art practices. We do not visit Adelaide very often and can’t afford the freight costs or fuel costs to go between Port Augusta and Adelaide for supplies. “

Juanella McKenzie, Adnyamathanha and Luritja Independent Artist, Port Augusta, SA 2023

Reaching our fundraising target, will see between 100-150 artists supported to sustain and grow their artistic practice. This will provide meaningful flow on benefits to their families and communities through increased economic participation and improved wellbeing. 

Understanding the well documented connection between creativity, community health and well being, Ku Arts works for and with First Nations artists across South Australia, delivering support services that allow them to realise their aspirations. 

Without ongoing donations to the Art Materials Fund, this crucial and simple form of support for regional and remote Aboriginal independent artists is in jeopardy, putting at risk the continued artistic practice of hundreds of active participants across South Australia.

The Artist Materials Fund builds on the success of an Arts SA funded pilot in 2022 that saw over eighty artists across seven regions provided with artist materials such as canvas, paints, brushes, watercolours, masking tapes, scissors, wood carving equipment, sculpting and weaving supplies.

“I’ve lived in Coober Pedy all my life and my family has been here for generations. If we didn’t have this [support from Ku Arts] we wouldn’t be able to buy brushes, paints, or canvases. My whole family paints and now the younger generations are starting. We get tourists asking for us to paint and it is important that the quality is good – if we use the cheap paints they fade after time. “

Jillian Williams, Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara Independent Artist, Coober Pedy, SA 2024

This pilot program demonstrated the direct benefits of this crucial support for emerging artists to launch careers, grow their economic participation and financial independence. Artists were able to create new bodies of work that were exhibited for sale at events such as the Tarnanthi Art Fair, Our Mob Exhibition, and Ku Arts' Arts in Health Exhibitions at Flinders Medical Centre.