A press release from Regional Arts Australia released today has announced that over 86 new arts projects, including bands and music investments across regional and remote areas of the nation, will see a stimulated boost of finances from the Australian Government’s funding body.
The statement reads:
“The Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development, Local Government and Minister for the Arts, the Hon Simon Crean MP has announced $910,633 for the May 2012 round of the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund will be distributed to 86 projects across regional and remote communities of Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.”
Regional Arts Australia’s president, Lee Cole added that the newly introduced financial assistance has “delivered outstanding engagment projects… this funding round proves again that creativity and artistic inspiration can be found and nurtured outside of our capital cities”, says Cole.
It’s a boon for independent projects and music initiatives Australia-wide with everything from school programs to cultural centres, theatre groups and even independent singer/songwriters benefiting from the financial input from the Australian Goverment and Austarlian Council of the Arts.
Some of the musical projects that will be benefiting from the Regional Arts Fund include the Torres Strait Islander Regional Council’s Torres Strait Choral Project, where “community choir members from several islands will work together and perform as part of the Zenadth Cultural Festival.” While Western Australia’s Theatre Kimberley will develop a musical play for children called Staircase To The Moon. Adapted from the book written by Indigenous author, Bronwyn Houston, with the musical production touted to include puppetry and dance.
Other notable projects include $5,000 support award to emerging Alice Springs singer/songwriter Edwina Donald to enter into a collaborative mentorship with NSW producer Benjamin List, Tasmania’s Junction Arts Festival developing two artist in residencies in Launceston for several local brass bands Red Brigade vs. Blue Brigade; and around $3,300 for South Australia’s Central Reggae program to help develop skills for young Aboriginal men in the remote area of Fregon.
The full list of all 86 projects is available from Regional Arts Australia here.
