Arts funding to bring spirit of historic Chinatown back to Mackay

Published on 12 November 2024

Celebrating Mackay's 1900s Chinatown and bringing the essence of it into the modern day is the inspiration behind a new city heart project.

Mackay’s historic Chinatown sat between Wellington and Macalister streets, and from River Street to Gordon Street, from 1880 to 1930 and was an area of market gardens and Asian grocers.

It’s this area of River Street that the Mackay City Heart Collective plans to activate, thanks to $12,200 in funding approved in the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) round one of grants.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the grant would be used to create a fusion of celebrations.

“Mackay City Heart Collective is well-known for producing high quality activations in our city, the new BeeMindful mural in Seventh Lane being one of their most recent,” Mayor Williamson said.

“They have received this grant to bring a series of Chinese Lunar New Year celebration events into the area that was historically our Chinatown,” he said.

“The events would fuse Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival and Spring Festival, and take place between January 29 to February 12, 2025, to create an 'Asian Spring' inspired festivity.

“The City Heart Collective artists will beautify the area with fish-related elements place in a variety of locations in the City Heart.”

Artist Lalune Croker has also received $7756 to create Asian lanterns to hang from both the Whitsunday Hotel and Ford petrol station during Chinese New Year to celebrate Mackay’s historic Chinatown.

Also funded in this RADF grants round were:

• Tiffany Grace Music - $9900 to record five news songs ready for release with photos and videos.

• Grace McDonald Azure Glass - $8540 to deliver a masterclass in printing techniques on thick kiln formed glass.

• Noosa Film Academy - $7756 to deliver narrative video therapy digital storytelling workshops and red-carpet community screening events for Mackay disadvantaged and low socio-economic youth.

• Home, Heart and Heritage: A Culinary Journey through the Mackay Region by Michelle Camilleri - $5940 to produce a series of video documentaries that celebrate the region’s diverse cultures, local art and the artistry of home cooking.

• Mangrove: Peeling back the Past by Janet Ambrose - $5505 to complete a publication of portraits, stories and artworks to showcase artists and Elders from the Multigenerational Multicultural community of Mackay.

• Creative Connection Workshops with Fiona Flohr - $4730 to deliver a series of pottery workshops through The Neighbourhood Hubs and Migrant Women’s Group.

• A Very Merry YarnBomb with the Northern Beaches Community Network - $1870 to deliver four crochet workshops, mentoring a community group to create a Christmas-themed yarnbomb installation.

The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and Mackay Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

The next round of RADF is now open and closes on February 5, 2025. Speak with the Arts Development Officer to discuss your project on phone 1300 MACKAY (622 529) or by email creative@mackay.qld.gov.au

For more information visit mackay.qld.gov.au/radf

The Mackay City Heart Collective received a Regional Arts Development Fund grant in 2023 to go towards the spectacular “BeeMindful” mural, which connects Wood Street Park with Seventh Lane.