Senator the Hon. George Brandis S.C.

Minister for the Arts and Sport

The Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator George Brandis has announced funding to support new creative activities at community festivals and one-off significant celebrations in 50 communities across Australia.

Senator Brandis announced funding support totalling over $778 000 for 34 projects through Festivals Australia and a further 17 through Festivals Australia Regional Residencies in the latest funding round.

Projects will take place in each state and the Northern Territory.

Senator Brandis said the Australian Government’s Festivals Australia helps communities to come together to appreciate each other and build understanding within their communities.

“Festivals Australia is yet another example of the Australian Government’s commitment to supporting regional and remote communities, helping to celebrate their unique identity and history.”

The funding will support a variety of cultural activities across Australia, from an orchestral performance in remote New South Wales, to an aerial performance in rural Western Australia.

This latest round of funding will support a range of activities such as:

• Carnarvon Extreme Festival, in Western Australia—the Skadada performance company, opens the festival with their aerial work Aureo. Workshops with the youth of the Gascoyne area will also be held.
• Nati Frinj Festival in Natimuk, Victoria—‘Where the hell have all the fish gone?’ is a narrative based drama about the fate of the fish in the dry Natimuk Lake. A theatre making process will culminate in a drama performed on the dry lake bed.

Visit www.dcita.gov.au/festivals and www.dcita.gov.au/festivals_residencies for a full list of successful applicants for the latest round of Festivals Australia and Festivals Australia Regional Residencies program funding. Applications for the next round of funding close on 16 July 2007.

Media contact: Travis Bell, 0448 950 248

7 June 2007

49-07