Hidden stories beneath the surface

WATER aerobics has proven to be so much more than just some daggy moves to daggy music, a local filmmaker as found.

Rebecca Thomson received just under $5000 as part of the City of Hobart’s grants program last year and will use the money for her short documentary An Aquatic Community.

The project focuses on the friendships between Hobart seniors who have been attending a water aerobics class together for more than 30 years.

The idea formed after Ms Thomson herself took part in a class.

“Some of the things they mentioned were about really big life events they’ve gone through, and that this community had really helped them get through,” she said.

“From the outside it just kind of looks like daggy moves to daggy music, but actually there’s some really beautiful stories there that I thought would be nice to capture.

“As a filmmaker, I’m interested in hidden stories in the community. What might seem like a mundane situation can actually be quite profound.”

Ms Thomson’s project was one of more than 200 funded by the council grants program in 2019.

The first round of grants for 2020 opens on Saturday, with amounts on offer up to $20,000.

Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the program helped enhance Hobart’s standing as a creative city.

“We’re privileged to receive an exciting and diverse range of applications each year, but we’re keen to see more applications from first-timers,” she said.

“The process is not as onerous as you may expect.”

For grant guidelines and online application forms, visit hobartcity.com.au/grants