Christmas may be over, but the gifts keep coming for Ararat with the news that Kylie Minogue is coming to town - in the form of a major exhibition - and the announcement of an $80,000 grant to support Ararat Performing Arts Centre and Ararat Regional Arts Gallery to build their audiences.
Visiting the Ararat Arts Precinct today, Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley announced that Ararat will be part of a regional Victorian tour of Kylie on Stage, Arts Centre Melbourne’s world premiere exhibition which gives audiences an insight into the stage craft of Australian music icon Kylie Minogue.
The exhibition, which has already been seen by over 175,000 visitors at Arts Centre Melbourne, includes costumes and objects from Kylie’s tours dating back to 1989. It also features a selection of designs, photographs and footage that explore the creative process behind Kylie’s ground-breaking performances.
Minister Foley’s visit included a preview of a showstopping Kylie costume from her 1998 ‘Intimate and Live’ tour that is part of Arts Centre Melbourne’s performing arts collection.
Kylie on Stage will go on display at Ararat Regional Art Gallery in July 2018. With support from the Andrews Labor Government’s Major Touring Program, the exhibition has also been confirmed to go on show at Geelong Gallery, and Mildura Arts Centre during 2017-18.
During the visit Minister Foley also announced that Ararat Regional City Council has received an $80,000 grant for a project that will see the performing arts centre and gallery working together to build audiences for the arts in the region.
The project will coincide with the Ararat Arts Precinct redevelopment and will ensure that both venues can take advantage of their new, expanded spaces when they reopen in 2018.
The grant is one of eight, totalling more than $500,000, to be made through the Full House and Engaging Audiences programs, new programs that support regional arts venues to strengthen community connections and attract new, or underrepresented, groups.
To see a full list of Full House and Engaging Audiences grant recipients, visit
Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley
“Victoria is Australia’s creative state and our support means we can keep our bars and restaurants full and our hotels booked.”
“Kylie on Stage will be a drawcard for the region and we are helping Ararat’s key cultural venues build on past success and take advantage of the opportunities up ahead.”
“We will continue to provide cultural gems for all to enjoy – they support our economy and Victorian jobs.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020