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.

Funding launched for communities to ‘tell their stories’

The Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, today announced the opening of the first grant round for the new Festivals Australia Regional Residencies program.

“This exciting new program will assist regional and remote communities to tell their stories, and the stories of their communities, at a local festival, celebration or community event,” Senator Kemp said.

“Funding will be provided to assist Australians living in regional and remote areas to work with an artist-in-residence, to tell their stories, through art, literature, dance, music and other mediums.

“Each community has its own sense of identity and sense of place and through this program those stories can be shared.

“The program will also open up employment opportunities for artists and make it easier for regional and remote communities to get more involved in art and cultural activities.

The Festivals Australia Regional Residencies program is a companion program of the highly successful Festivals Australia program which has been assisting communities develop activities for public festivals, cultural celebrations and other significant events.

In the last budget, the Australian Government announced it would provide $1.5 million in new funding over three years, for the Festivals Australia Regional Residencies program.

Community, regional arts and cultural organisations and local councils, that are arranging festivals and community events, are encouraged to apply for funding under the Festivals Australia Regional Residencies program.

The first grant round closes on 30 September 2005 for projects commencing on or after 1 February 2006.

Applications to the program will be assessed by the Festivals Australia Committee.

Program guidelines, application forms and more information on Festivals Australia Regional Residencies can be obtained from the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts’ Regional Residencies Program Officer on 02 6271 1661 or in a free call to 1800 819 461.

Or interested applicants can email festivals.australia@dcita.gov.au or go to the Festivals Australia Regional Residencies program website at www.dcita.gov.au/festivals_residencies.

14 July 2005
Media contact: Michael Christo, 03 9650 7274 or 0409 040276