Australia Council invests $5.8 million in arts projects

The Substation NewportSupporting 184 projects, including $3 million for 141 individuals and groups, and $2.8 million for 43 small-to-medium organisations, the Australia Council for the Arts has announced a $5.8 million investment through its October project grant round.

Australia Council for the Arts Chief Executive Officer Tony Grybowski said the round included the highest number of successful multi-art form applications under the new model, and a continued commitment to a large proportion of the investment going to individual artists, in recognition that the Council is the lead Commonwealth funder of this part of the sector.

“We received 1,373 applications from across Australia, and the 128 peer assessors had another impressive group of diverse projects to assess in an increasingly competitive funding environment,” said Mr Grybowski. “With ‘arts in daily life’ as one of our strategic goals, I’m particularly pleased that 31% of the successful applicants had audience engagement, and access and participation in the arts as the primary outcomes of their projects.

“It was encouraging to see that 19% of successful applicants were based in regional and remote areas; more than half of grant funding to individuals went to female artists; and multi-art form grant funding has hit a five-round high, all of which continue the trend in fostering diversity, strength and vibrancy of the arts across Australia,” said Mr Grybowski.

The rigorous assessment process which underpins this program draws on the diverse experience and deep knowledge of expert peers from across the national arts sector. In this round, 19% of peer assessors identified as being culturally and linguistically diverse, 18% identified as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, and 20% were from regional or remote Australia.

January 2017 also marks the beginning of the Four Year Funding program, with $28 million invested annually in 128 small to medium companies who represent all state, territories and areas of practice.

A full list of the grants outcomes can be found on the Australia Council for the Arts grants register. Applications are now open for the first round of grant funding for 2017 and close on Tuesday 7 February for projects starting after 1 May 2017.

Image: The Substation Newport was a recipient in the latest round of project funding