The Hon Rod Kemp was Minister for the Arts and Sport from Friday 23 November 2001 to Tuesday 30 January 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.

Performing arts training funds for NIDA announced

The Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, today announced continued funding support for the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), one of the elite performing arts training organisations.

“NIDA has established a reputation for excellence in Australia and overseas. The International Theatre Institute, founded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), has identified it as one of the world’s 10 leading theatre schools,” Senator Kemp said.

“As a result of sustained excellence in training, over the years one in five NIDA graduates has either won or been nominated for an industry award.”

In the upcoming budget the Government will be providing funding of $4.8 million over four years (2007-08 to 2010-11) to NIDA.

The funding enables NIDA to meet the cost of operating its Stage II facilities, funded by the Australian Government as part of the 1998 Federation Fund and opened in 2001.

Together with ongoing support of $4.4 million per annum, this funding maintains the commitment of the Australian Government to NIDA, which will total $5.6 million in 2007–2008.

“I look forward to seeing gifted young Australians continuing to emerge from NIDA and going on to national and international careers in theatre, film and television,” Senator Kemp said.

Visit www.nida.unsw.edu.au for more information about NIDA and its programs.

MELBOURNE

18 January 2007

Media contact: Adrian Chippindale – 02 6277 7350