A youth theatre program in Dandenong is one of 96 arts projects across the state to share in more than $1.6 million through the Andrews Labor Government’s VicArts Grants Program.
Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley met with members of Dandenong’s SeaACT theatre group today to announce the funding and preview their project Stories from all the way out in Dandenong.
SeaACT has received funding for a 12-month youth theatre program in partnership with Melbourne Playback Theatre Company, The Drum Theatre in Dandenong and the Emerging Writers Festival.
Participants, including young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, will share their stories and create a performance that speaks about the experiences and aspirations of young people in the region.
The SeaACT program has worked with over 250 young people in Melbourne’s South East. Previous participants have gone on to perform with local theatre companies and one is now studying at the Victorian College of the Arts.
Other funding announced in this round include a new ‘lab’ to create connections between experimental and interdisciplinary artists in Melbourne and the Wimmera, a mentorship program as part of the Gertrude Street Projection Festival, and a creative residency program for women at Avoca’s historic ‘Swiss House’.
Overall the 96 projects will provide opportunities for more than 2,000 artists.
Applications for the next round of VicArts Grants will close on 17 August 2016. Full program details and the full list of latest recipients are available at
Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley
“From the production of new manuscripts, to lights festivals to supporting our new artists develop – I can’t wait to see these projects come to life. “
“These successful projects will explore our history and imagine our future, they will challenge us and encourage us to consider things from a different perspective.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020