Creative Australia awards $2 million to National Touring programs

Creative Australia is investing more than $2 million in supporting 31 projects to bring live performances to audiences across Australia, particularly in regional and remote communities.

Works from Blakdance, Dancenorth and Performing Lines are among those receiving funding to tour the country.

Creative Australia has announced the latest recipients of investment through its national touring programs, Playing Australia and the Contemporary Music Touring Program with works from Blakdance, Dancenorth and Performing Lines among those receiving funding to tour the country.

The Contemporary Music Program will support 27 Australian musicians to take their original music across the country. 

Four touring performing arts organisations will be supported through Playing Australia project investment.

Executive Director of Arts Investment Alice Nash noted “this investment brings exceptional music and performing arts to local halls, outdoor stages and remote communities across the country. From classical music to contemporary dance, hip-hop and First Nations storytelling, these projects will bring live performances to audiences who may otherwise miss out, helping reduce barriers to access and strengthen connections between artists and communities.”

Recipients include:

Playing Australia

• Arts on Tour NSW - 2026 national tour of Danza Del Arte’s production Water Mirror.

• BlakDance Australia - Garabari by Joel Bray Dance & BlakDance – Returning to Country & Touring

• Performing Lines Limited - ARCO Jnr/Snr National Tour 2026

• Dancenorth Australia Limited - Lighting the Dark – National Tour

Contemporary Music Touring Program

• Love Your Records 

• Music in Exile 

• Dialogue of Minds

• Ella Thompson 

• Mulga Bore Hard Rock

• Didirri Peters 

• P.A.W. Media & Communications 

• Sycco (aka Sasha McLeod)

• Nicky Bomba 

• Adelaide Festival Centre Trust 

• Press Club

• Anna Smyrk 

• Dallas Frasca 

• Liz Stringer

• Emily Lubitz 

• Sydney Improvised Music Association Inc 

• Callum Cramp 

• Kita Alexander

• Joel Rapaport 

• Miramar 

• Anthony Pateras 

• Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys

• Glenn Richards  

• Denis Janse Van Rensburg  

• Winter McQuinn  

• The Terrys 

• Minor Gold

More about Playing Australia 

More about its Contemporary Music Touring Program 

Image. Under the Playing Australia grant, Arts On Tour has earned $220,091 to present a national tour of Danza del Arte’s production Water Mirror in 2026. Developed by choreographer Paulina Quinteros, the work fuses Taiko performance with live acrobatics and dance. Credit Arts on Tour