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More Support For Global Creative Partnerships

21 July 2017

Victoria’s global reputation as a creative leader will be bolstered thanks to the latest round of grants from the Andrews Labor Government designed to take local creative content and expertise around the globe.

Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley today announced more than $380,000 in International Engagement grants which will help 17 small to medium Victorian arts organisations build their export potential and form partnerships across Asia, Africa, the UK, Europe and North America and Africa.

Victorian creativity is in demand around the world – from local companies making a significant impact with communities in need and recovering from major disasters, to being invited to perform or participate in leading festivals and iconic locations.

Organisations receiving funding include:

  • Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to tour the Special Region of Yogyakarta, including a ground-breaking outdoor performance at the UNESCO World Heritage listed Prambanan Temple site. The tour is the first activity to be undertaken as part of Victoria’s Memorandum of Understanding with the region.
  • Ranters Theatre has been invited to perform at the prestigious Dublin Theatre Festival and Speak Percussion which will travel to Hong Kong, and across Europe, to perform and present workshops and masterclasses at some of the world’s most prestigious new music events.
  • Innovative children’s theatre company Polyglot Theatre will further its work with communities in the tsunami-affected Tohoku region of Japan, while Footscray’s Snuff Puppets and Women’s Circus will work with at-risk communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nepal respectively.

The round will also support local organisations to forge partnerships that will create career development opportunities for Victorian creative practitioners.

Newport’s arts space, The Substation will work with acclaimed Glasgow arts space Cryptic to develop an international artist exchange program, while Melbourne Writers Festival will bring an international delegation of festival directors and literary programmers to Melbourne during the 2017 festival.

Building international engagement is one of the key focus areas of the Labor Government’s $115 million Creative State strategy which aims to grow Victoria’s creative industries and their economic and social impact.

For a full list of International Engagement Grant recipients, visit creative.vic.gov.au/news

Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley

“As a creative state, it is important that we continue to deepen our global engagement and connect with ideas and influences beyond our borders.”

“These projects will increase export opportunities for home-grown work, develop the skills of our local talent and promote Victoria as a creative and cultural destination.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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