Festivals funding to support regional artists and events

The Albanese Labor Government is supporting a place for every story and a story for every place, with new funding for a range of arts project at festivals across the country.

Close to $700,000 in funding will be shared among 17 projects in regional and rural communities through the Festivals Australia program.

The successful projects highlight the diversity and originality of Australia’s arts sector and span live music, theatre, dance, literature, exhibitions and workshops, including:

The Darwin Festival – More than $63,000 will support Big Name, No Blankets – a rock and roll theatre show celebrating the phenomenal journey of Australian music icons, the Warumpi Band, told through the perspective of the Butcher Brothers.

Flourish Festival – Awarding winning, female-led theatre company Belloo Creative will receive more than $40,000 to bring their piece Haven – telling the true story of the regional community fighting to bring the Nadesalingam family back to their adopted home of Biloela – to this central Queensland festival.

Port Pirie SALA Winter Festival – Port Pirie Regional Council will receive more than $45,000 for The Salty Forest – an immersive project exploring the beauty of South Australia’s mangroves through site visits, photography and hands-on art workshops, culminating in the creation of a moving image artwork encircling Port Pirie's Rotunda.

Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the funding will help to ensure audiences have the opportunity to experience festivals and the arts, no matter where they live.

“We know that festivals did it tough throughout COVID-19, and this funding will help their continued revival in the regions,” Minister Burke said.

“As well as supporting Australian artists to showcase their stories, these events will grow regional audiences, drive tourism and provide job opportunities for local communities.

“Making sure there is a place for every story and a story for every place is at the heart of Revive, Australia’s new cultural policy.

“From Port Pirie to Darwin, the Kimberley to Broken Hill - this program does just that.”

The Festivals Australia program provides approximately $1.3 million each financial year through two funding rounds.

Applicants are independently assessed on specific criteria that consider quality, accessibility, partnership opportunities and value for money of the project.

For more information, including a full list of projects funded through this round, visit: https://www.arts.gov.au/funding-and-support/festivals-australia.