Senator the Hon. George Brandis S.C.

Minister for the Arts and Sport

A funding partnership announced today between the Australian Government and the Australian Capital Territory Government will help ensure the arts sector in the ACT and south-eastern NSW remains dynamic.

The Australian Government Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator George Brandis, and ACT Chief Minister and Minister for the Arts, Mr Jon Stanhope MLA, have reached an agreement to provide Commonwealth funding to the South East Arts Region (SEAR) and Southern Tableland Arts (STARTS) organisations . Each organisation will fund arts activities that provide communities in south-eastern NSW with access to the artistic and cultural resources of the ACT.

‘Local and regional arts are the foundations of national cultural identity,’ Senator Brandis said.

‘The Regional Arts Fund (RAF) recognises the particular needs of communities and artists outside of major population centres. It encourages and supports sustainable, community-related cultural development.

‘As a measure of its commitment, the Australian Government has committed $16.1 million over the period 2004–05 to 2007–08 for regional arts support through regional arts organisations in each state.’

‘I am pleased that the ACT can facilitate the delivery of over $200 000 in Regional Arts Funding,’ said Mr Stanhope.

‘The Regional Arts Fund will make a contribution to the creative life and wellbeing of the ACT and regional communities through the support of partnerships between ACT key arts organisations and regional artists.’.

SEAR supports individual artists as well as the cultural activities of the Councils of Bega Valley, Bombala, Cooma Monaro, Eurobodalla and Snowy River. It has offices in Bega, Jindabyne and Moruya.

STARTS, based at Goulburn, supports both individual artists and community arts participation in the Boorowa, Palerang, Goulburn, Mulwaree, Queanbeyan City, Upper Lachlan, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly and Yass Valley council areas.

Both organisations receive further funding from the relevant councils and from Arts NSW .

See more about the RAF at www.dcita.gov.au/arts_culture/arts/regional_arts_fund

10 April 2007

Media contact for Senator Brandis: Travis Bell 0448 950 248

Media contact for Mr Stanhope: Penelope Layland 0438 289 714