Member Profile - Ann Martin
Ann Martin: Championing Creativity and Community
For Ann Martin, being part of Our Community Project has been about more than membership, it has been about 18 years of helping shape an organisation that believes in the power of community, creativity and opportunity.
Ann was there at the very beginning of Culture Bank, attending the first meeting held at Wollongong Library, and has remained a member ever since. She has also served as a Director on the Our Community Project Board for the past 18 years, bringing with her a lifelong passion for the arts and a strong commitment to creating opportunities for artists and creative people.
Ann’s own creative journey began when she moved from high school to Art School in Sydney. Today, she continues to practise as an artist, with interests in visual arts and poetry and has been a passionate advocate for the art and artists through roles with the NSW Community Arts Association, the National Association of Creative Arts and the NSW Artworkers Workers Union.
Her experiences working in and with local government in Sydney, and regional NSW further strengthened that advocacy. Ann saw first-hand how difficult it could be to secure funding for artists and creative spaces, particularly when artists were not seen as a priority. Those experiences fuelled her determination to champion greater recognition, funding and opportunity for artists.
It is one of the reasons Culture Bank “made an awful lot of sense” to Ann where Culture Bank’s simple crowdfunding model provides artists with an opportunity to turn new ideas into reality, whether through film, visual art, theatre, music or literature. Just as importantly, it creates a network where artists can gain exposure and connect with others who share a commitment to creativity.
For Ann, accountability is also important. “Members can see where their contributions have gone and what has been achieved, while successful projects can potentially lead to further support”.
Ann dreams of a future where artists have access to affordable, secure studio and workspace, available for both short- and long-term hire and believes supporting artists is an investment in the creative life of Wollongong and the Illawarra.
Decision Dinners are a particular highlight. “It’s fantastic to see the incredible range of projects proposed and meeting like-minded members, however seeing 43 applications and only being able to fund eight in our most recent round of funding, also highlights the enormous demand”.
Her message to potential members is simple: even $10 a month — “the equivalent of two cups of coffee” — can make a significant difference.
With Wollongong home to such a vibrant arts community, Ann believes Culture Bank has an important role to play in ensuring creativity continues to thrive.
Image: Wollongong City Council