Senator the Hon. George Brandis S.C.
Minister for the Arts and Sport
Former Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts; Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate archived website
Minister for the Arts and Sport from 23 November 2001 to 30 January 2007
Playing Australia - $3.25 million funding round announced
The Minister for Arts and Sport, Senator George Brandis, today announced new Playing Australia funding of over $3.25 million for 25 performing arts tours to entertain audiences across Australia.
“This Playing Australia program funding will be a huge boost for particularly regional and remote audiences, who will be able to access some of Australia’s most exciting performing arts tours in 2008,” Senator Brandis said.
“The performing arts industry will also benefit, as the funding will provide support for approximately 219 weeks of employment for 243 performing arts workers.
“The Playing Australia program is a great example of arts funding being provided to talented Australian arts companies and individuals by the Australian Government—it is support that is building a stronger and more sustainable arts sector for all Australians.”
The most recent Playing Australia funding for tours that begin after 1 January 2008 includes:
- Bell Shakespeare Company, $443 314 to tour As You Like It to 35 venues in NSW, VIC, TAS, ACT and WA, with 129 performances. Venues include Karratha, Bathurst, Lismore, Cairns and Rockhampton.
- Co-Opera, $225 374 to tour La Traviata to 42 venues in VIC, ACT, NSW, SA, NT and WA, with 43 performances. Venues include Robinvale, Echuca, Parkes, Goondiwindi, Cobar, Lightning Ridge, Penola, Jabiru and Katherine.
- Critical Stages, $115 248 to tour the award winning production of The Pitch by Who’s who Productions to 39 venues in NSW, TAS, VIC, WA, and QLD, with 93 performances. Venues include Walgett, Dubbo, Bourke, Hobart, Coonabarabran and Albany.
- Arts on Tour NSW, $276 855 to tour True Stories by Bangarra Dance Theatre to nine venues in SA, NT and QLD, with 14 performances. Venues include Alice Springs, Mackay, Townsville and Murray Island.
- Queensland Arts Council, $59 150 to tour One Man Percussion Orchestra by Grant Collins to 14 venues in NSW, QLD, NT and WA, with 14 performances. Venues include Ayr, Thurwingowa, Canarvon and Bunbury.
The Playing Australia program has assisted performing arts tours since 1992. Visit www.dcita.gov.au/artsfunding to access the Playing Australia website which has full details of the program and a list of current funding recipients.
Media contact: Travis Bell 0448 950 248
7 September 2007
105/07