$1.5m To Support Creativity Across Victoria

From debut novels, to community choirs, international tours and children’s exhibitions, Victoria’s creative credentials will go on show across the state, the nation and the world with the latest round of projects to be supported through Creative Victoria’s VicArts Grants Program.

Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley, today announced more than $1.5 million in funding to support 106 diverse arts projects across the state. The projects will help develop the careers of professional and emerging artists, while providing creative outlets to more than 3,000 community members.

The projects range from established events such as the Melbourne Cabaret Festival and Gertrude Street Projection Festival to new initiatives such as weekly art projects at Footscray Train Station. Projects will see artists sharing their skills with asylum seekers, people who are homeless, refugee and immigrant communities, Aborigines and at-risk youth.

Supported projects will be staged in regional areas including Warrnambool, Castlemaine and the Macedon Ranges. Several international opportunities will see Victorian artists create work in countries including Canada, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden, Germany, France and Indonesia.

The VicArts Grants program supports Victorian artists and small arts organisations to create, present and program new work. Applications for the next round of funding will close on 29 July for projects commencing from 1 December 2015. For more information visit www.creative.vic.gov.au/funding

For a full list of recipients, go to creative.vic.gov.au/news.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley

“Creative activity brings social, cultural and economic benefits to the community. These projects will not only create diverse and exciting works of art, they will provide employment opportunities for people in our creative industries, including close to 1,500 Victorian artists and 600 support personnel, from technicians to managers and publicists. The projects will also engage a wide range of Victorians, including some of our most vulnerable communities. ”

“A strong, innovative, independent arts sector lies at the heart of our creative industries, and is one of Victoria’s great strengths. In the 2015-16 State Budget we committed $6.6 million a year to strengthen this sector, including continued funding for artists and small arts companies to create new work, engage the community and develop their careers.”