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Creative Economy Builds Community, Grows Jobs

03 May 2022

The Andrews Labor Government is backing Victoria’s multi‑billion‑dollar creative economy, supporting arts and cultural destinations big and small to create more jobs and deliver the experiences Victorians love.

Victoria’s renowned creative scene is roaring back to life. The Victorian Budget 2022/23 provides $245.8 million for our much-loved cultural attractions and booming screen sector – investing in the workers, businesses and institutions that make them shine.

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) will receive $32.1 million to support its blockbuster summer exhibition program, including the NGV Triennial. Since its inception in 2014, this highly anticipated series has attracted almost 11 million visitors to must-see exhibitions and special activities.

Focusing on the best local and international contemporary art and design, the summer series offers a preview of what’s to come when the spectacular new NGV Contemporary – funded by the Labor Government as part of the $1.7 billion Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation – opens.

ACMI, Arts Centre Melbourne, Geelong Arts Centre, Melbourne Recital Centre, Museums Victoria, NGV and State Library Victoria will share in a further $127.4 million to support a strong recovery after two years of disruption, providing jobs for local creatives, securing our pipeline of cultural experiences and boosting our visitor economy.

This includes creative education programs for young people, commissions for local artists, initiatives for creative entrepreneurs as part of completed new spaces at ACMI and the State Library, and a range of new exhibitions and events for audiences of all ages.

There will be a boost for Arts Centre Melbourne’s popular Australian Music Vault program, which showcases the iconic people, places and events that define the best of Australian music.

ACMI has been renewed both in its physical space in Federation Square and its vast online offerings celebrating the moving image, and funding will help the modern, multi-platform museum reach new audiences.

The Budget confirms a landmark partnership with NBCUniversal worth $54.1 million, which will bring a pipeline of ambitious, job-creating screen activity to Victoria.

Premium television series Metropolis is first cab off the rank and will be the largest screen production ever to be made in Victoria, employing almost 4,000 local screen industry workers and extras and engaging 600 local businesses.

This investment also supports the installation of cutting-edge virtual production infrastructure – the first of its kind and scale in Australia – which will massively boost our competitive advantage as a global screen destination, upskill local workers, and attract and support further productions into the future.

Small to medium-sized organisations will receive a boost with the $17.5 million Creative Infrastructure Program.

Significant works will be undertaken at Footscray Community Arts and Castlemaine Art Museum to cater for new programming and better accommodate audiences, in addition to projects in St Kilda and Melbourne’s outer west and south east.

In St Kilda, Theatre Works and the National Theatre will receive support for infrastructure upgrades, and funding will support important planning work for the Dandenong Arts Precinct and a performing arts centre in Tarneit North.

These initiatives are part of a pipeline of generational creative facilities projects across regional and metro areas – from the recently opened Gippsland Performing Arts Centre in Traralgon and Shepparton Art Museum to the Geelong Arts Centre and Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation projects now underway.

Local communities and creatives will also benefit from the $6 million Creative Spaces and Places program, which aims to grow affordable spaces for artists and creatives to develop and showcase their work around Victoria.

Melbourne’s west will host signature events – including from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, RISING and Melbourne Fringe – supported by the new $2.4 million Go West Festivals Fund, encouraging major events to stage shows and commission new works in the area.

The Fund will harness the creativity of the diverse communities of Melbourne’s west, showcasing their incredible local talent and culture.

More than $1.1 million will be invested in the First Peoples Touring and Engagement program, driven by First Peoples creatives, to bring creative events that celebrate First Peoples culture and creativity to regional destinations.

Further boosting diversity on our screens, local filmmakers will benefit from $1.3 million to establish a new short film competition and mentorship program, under the guidance of leading South Asian directors.

The Indian Film Festival Melbourne will also receive $1 million to increase the profile and reach of the festival, while promoting Victoria as a production, tourism and education destination.

Tourism and live music will receive $2.9 million to create dedicated touring circuits in regional Victoria, bringing the best Victorian acts to venues on the Surf Coast, in Gippsland, the Wimmera-Mallee and more.

This builds on the Government’s $20 million Music Industry Restart package, which is reigniting our beloved live music scene.

The funding will also support a Victorian Music First licensing initiative to increase the use of Victorian music in government settings and generate new income streams for local artists.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson

“Victoria is known as the creative state for a reason – our galleries, museums, libraries and theatres bring thousands of people here every year, helping grow our economy and create jobs.”

“We’re backing Victoria’s multi-billion-dollar creative economy so it can keep delivering the jobs Victorians need and the cultural experiences they love.”

Reviewed 03 May 2022

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