Circus Oz’s latest production, The Australian Ballet’s classic Giselle and cutting-edge contemporary art exhibitions are among the arts events heading to regional communities with support from the Victorian Government’s Touring Victoria program.
Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley today announced $971,000 in grants to nine companies and producers for regional tours between 2015 and 2017. They will take visual arts, music, circus, theatre, comedy and dance performances to regional audiences.
“Whether you live in the heart of a city or in a small regional town, our creative industries and cultural events can enhance liveability, help to strengthen a sense of community and stimulate the local economy,” says Minister Foley.
Circus Oz will take its 2016 main stage performance to Swan Hill, Warrnambool, Bendigo, Horsham and Mildura; the Australian Ballet’s Dancer’s Company will perform in Geelong, Bendigo, Warrnambool and Mildura; and a regional tour of The Gizmo, a family show adapted from Paul Jennings’ best-selling book.
Visual art organisation NETS Victoria will present a program of visual art exhibitions that will tour to regional Victoria in 2016 and 2017. The program includes: Country Practice – a contemporary art exhibition that draws together a range of leading artists to create works that respond to a reflect on the local area; and Drawing the Labyrinth – an exhibition of hundreds of drawings by renowned artist Jackie Stockdale (Swan Hill).
Neverwhere – an exhibition featuring the work of eight significant contemporary Australian artists developed in partnership with Asialink (Horsham); and Wominjeka: A New Beginning, 30 Years of the Koorie Heritage Trust – featuring new works drawing on the Trust’s collection (Mildura).
Other tours include chamber music concerts by Melbourne Chamber Orchestra; The Gizmo, a family show adapted from Paul Jennings’ best-selling book; and Victorian Opera’s The Pied Piper, a new family-friendly opera by Richard Mills, which will feature local community choirs in each location – venues are to be confirmed.
The peak body for regional artists and arts organisations, and the leading organisation for regional creative practice in Victoria, Regional Arts Victoria will present a 2015 and 2016 regional touring program featuring interactive and family performances, comedy, contemporary music, physical theatre and Indigenous storytelling.
“Victoria’s fantastic regional venues host year-round programs that are the envy of many of their metro and interstate counterparts,’ says Minister Foley. “These latest tours will add to local cultural life, give Victorian artists and companies the opportunity to broaden their audience base and ensure that all Victorians have access to the creativity that our state is so renowned for.”
The Touring Victoria program provides support for Victorian arts organisations or artists to tour productions, performances, exhibitions or programs to regional and outer metropolitan Victoria. Applications for the next round of the program, for tours starting after 1 July 2016, will close at 5pm, Wednesday, 3 February, 2016.
For more information visit www.creative.vic.gov.au for details.
Image: Circus Oz Ensemble 2015 – photo by Rob Blackburn