Federal Arts Minister, Tony Burke, has announced $645,134 for the March 2013 round of the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund will be distributed to 54 projects across regional and remote communities of Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.
President of Regional Arts Australia Dennis Goldner welcomed the funding announcement, saying, “Regional Arts Australia through the Regional Arts Fund delivers essential arts funding to regional and remote Australia.”
“This Funding round highlights the Fund’s ability to stimulate sustainable arts and cultural development outside our capital cities whilst targeting youth, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders alongside whole-of-community engagement.”
“These Funded projects provide skills, opportunities and showcases for outstanding art being produced and delivered in regional and remote Australia. The Regional Arts Fund ensures that arts and culture are available to all Australians.”
The Regional Arts Fund is an Australian Government initiative that supports sustainable cultural development in regional, remote and very remote Australia and is delivered by Regional Arts Australia and regional arts organisations in each state.
In this round 50 per cent of applications have targeted the professional development of professional regional artists and arts workers, while 61 per cent of applications will be aimed at building community skills and community capacity.
This round also has a particularly youth-centric focus, with 17 per cent of successful applications recognising this bracket of engagement as their target audience.
The Regional Arts Fund supports sustainable cultural development in regional and remote Australia with funding targeted at activities that will have long term cultural, economic and social benefits for individuals and communities through the development of partnerships and cultural networks.
The Fund also provides artists with professional development and employment opportunities, and by supporting arts and community development projects that provide local communities with the opportunity to participate in, and access cultural activities.
The Regional Arts Fund is coordinated on behalf of the Australian Government by Regional Arts Australia and its Member Network to improves the lives of regional Australians through arts and culture.
For more information and the list of successful recipients, visit: www.regionalarts.com.au for details.
Image: Peter Fares by James Welsby
