Disability-led performing arts company to share in South Australian government funding

Disability-led performing arts company, Restless Dance Theatre is among the arts organisations, artists, and smaller collectives exploring bold new works to share in $8 million distributed by the South Australian Government

SA Arts Minister Andrea Michaels said a vibrant and thriving arts community supports the state’s wider creative economy, builds careers and enhances community wellbeing.

Grants totalling $4 million over four years will be distributed through Arts South Australia to support small to medium-sized arts organisations, including those engaging with diverse multicultural communities, artists with disability and the LGBTIQ+ community.

Funding through Arts South Australia’s Arts Organisations Program (AOP) will continue to support, subject to peer assessment, organisations such as contemporary intercultural groups, Nexus Arts; disability-led performing arts company, Restless Dance Theatre; the LGBTIQ+ festival, Feast; organisations supporting Aboriginal artists; and organisations for which diversity is an informing context for their work, among others.

Over four years the remaining $4 million will be allocated between Arts South Australia’s Arts and Culture Grants Program (ACGP) and funding programs administered by Country Arts SA and Carclew, ensuring support for regional artists and early career artists.

The increased funding will be available through grants for independent professional artists and groups working across all art forms, with additional funds for fellowships, collaborative projects and the commissioning of significant new South Australian works.

Minister Michaels notes “through this funding, artists and performers will have the chance to develop career-defining skills and benefit from vocational employment, making and presenting their work locally and engaging with diverse audiences and communities.

“Additional support for Fellowships and Biennial Projects provides a solid foundation for artists to seed and develop innovative ideas, opening opportunities to secure funding for larger scale collaborative or commissioned projects.

“South Australia's arts community is a key part of our cultural life and I’m committed to keeping artists and employment opportunities at the centre of State Government support for the arts and creative sector.”

Jessica Alice, Chair, Arts Industry Council SA welcomed the funding announcement advising it “will provide critical and broad support to the arts, particularly to independent artists, small organisations and collectives, where our state’s most innovative and diverse work is made.

“This funding will build on existing fellowships and collaborations, as well as multiyear arts projects, in order to respond to identified needs of our arts sector. These funding programs will enable more professional South Australian artists to experiment, and make ambitious work with a long term vision.”

For full details of grants available through Arts South Australia, go to: www.dpc.sa.gov.au/responsibilities/arts-and-culture/grants

Image courtesy Restless Dance Theatre