19 September 2008
Peter Garrett AM
Federal Member for Kingsford Smith
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
Arts Minister Peter Garrett today announced that 19 performing arts companies would enjoy the opportunity to tour live performances across the country, thanks to a $2.9 million Playing Australia funding round.
“Every year funding is provided so that great Australian performances can be toured around the country, giving audiences in regional communities the opportunity to see some of the very best of what our performers have to offer,” Mr Garrett said.
“One of the benefits of the Playing Australia program is that as well as mainstream works, it supports aspiring companies who do not have the resources to stage big productions.
“Regional touring brings a two-way benefit: small, cutting-edge performance companies have the opportunity to showcase their excellence, and regional audiences have the opportunity to see the sorts of exciting new works that they would have once had to travel to a city theatre to experience.
“Playing Australia funding also makes an indirect, but very welcome, financial contribution to the economies of the small towns they visit.”
Mr Garrett said this year’s funding would bring contemporary dance, puppetry and theatre to the stage. Among the highlights of Playing Australia’s Round 32 performances:
construct by the late Tanja Liedtke, investigates concepts around ‘building’. Commissioned for Southbank in London, this dance piece will tour to seven venues in five states, with 15 performances. ($94,036)
Teuila Postcards by Polytoxic Dance Company will take Polynesian dance to 14 venues in five states, with 35 performances. ($125,447)
The Grimstones a gothic fairytale, features puppets devised by circus and performance artist Asphyxia, and will be taken to four venues in Queensland with eight performances. ($11,016)
Playing Australia, the Australian Government’s national performing arts touring program, has been funding performing arts tours since 1992, helping to build a vibrant arts sector in Australia.
Visit www.arts.gov.au/arts/playing_australia where you will find full details of the program, guidelines, and lists of current and past funding recipients.