Australia Council announces latest investment of $8.49 million in diverse creative projects

Following revelations last week that it would no longer back Circus Oz, the Australia Council has today announced that it is investing almost $8.5 million in 173 projects spanning First Nations arts, visual arts, theatre, dance, literature, multi-art, emerging and experimental arts and community arts and cultural development.

Revealing the funding, Australia Council Executive Director for Arts Investment, Alice Nash stated “there is a terrific diversity of engaging, innovative and stimulating creative projects which will appeal to a wide range of audiences right across the country.

“We’re especially pleased to be able to support more works by First Nations artists, as well as writer’s festivals and projects that aim to engage audiences with disabilities and from culturally diverse backgrounds.

“Creativity connects all Australians, and as we continue to emerge from the isolation and restrictions of the pandemic, it’s exciting to see the range of work that Australian artists and creators are bringing to audiences of all ages and backgrounds.”

Among the 173 arts projects supported:

• Led by playwright Tahli Corin, Threshold and a team of artists will develop a new online theatrical experience for an intergenerational audience. TIME MACHINE will be developed in regional Victoria and uses digital technology to creatively connect young people with their grandparents.

• A number of writer’s festivals, including the National Young Writer’s Festival, Byron Writers Festival, Sydney Writers Festival, Blak and Bright, Scriblers Festival and Adelaide Writers Week.

• Melbourne-based First Nations artist Brook Andrew will collaborate with an ensemble of First Nations creatives, designers, to develop a new performance video and installation based on his theatre script GABAN (‘strange’).

• New works from First Nations writers Jared Thomas, Timmah Ball and Cassie Lynch, as well as First Nations-led literary festival, Blak and Bright, led by Jane Harrison.

• Urban Theatre Projects for Radical Accessibility - a series of forums, workshops, mentorships and learning programs aimed at engaging people from diverse backgrounds including young people from Western Sydney.

• Jarradah Gooragulli - Dance of the Brolgas - a collaborative performance work from the Northern Territory, led by Kathy Mills, featuring a creation story, and a text which narrates a celebration of love, identity and reconciliation.

• A group of musicians and performers led by Robbie Avenaim to deliver a series of music concerts for people with disabilities and their families/supporters, as part of Safe in Sound (SIS) with performances taking place across three states (NSW, Victoria and Tasmania) and online.

Click here to view the full list of recipients on the Australia Council’s website. 

Image: Robbie Avenaim. Credit: Robbie Avenaim.