New Victorian arts programs to drive innovation and public benefit

Victorian Government funding programs for arts organisations and individual artists are to be streamlined, more strategically focused and boosted.

Announcing the changes, Victorian Minister for the Arts Heidi Victoria said that the changes including the introduction of a new contestable VicArts Grants program complete the Coalition Government's reforms of the way it invests in the arts sector through Arts Victoria.

Minister Victoria explained "the ... Government has been looking at ways to streamline processes and target the State's investment in the arts in a way that ensures the greatest public benefit.

"Following the introduction of Arts Victoria's Organisations Investment Program in 2012, and the refresh of the Regional Development Program in 2011, this third stage will revitalise the way we invest in creative projects and the careers of Victorian artists, and provide a new strategic investment capability.

"The new VicArts Grants program will replace eight separate funding categories, which together created 17 new funding rounds a year.

"Bringing together these categories will allow greater scope for applicants and reduce administrative duplication at Arts Victoria.

"Our independent arts sector has a reputation as the most innovative in the country and our artists are diverse, continually pushing boundaries with their work.

"This new simplified program will further encourage innovation and new ideas by removing the arbitrary barriers of the old programs."

While the VicArts Grants program will be broad in scope, it will specify priority areas of funding which may change over time.

Minister Victorian added "as with the Organisations Investment Program, which has been welcomed by the sector, this approach will provide flexibility within the framework of one program to respond to emerging sector needs and Government priorities."

A new Strategic Initiatives program will umbrella a series of targeted activities that deliver on specific Government priorities, which will see increased investment in arts and education partnerships and dedicated funding to further Victoria's Asia-focused program, amongst other initiatives.

Minister Victoria said the new programs now completed Arts Victoria's funding strategy, comprising four main areas for investment:

The $33 million Organisations Investment Program, which was introduced in 2012 and provides multi-year funding over three, six or nine years for independent, small to medium and major performing arts organisations. An additional $2.5 million has been committed to this program over the next two years.

The $5.7 million Regional Development Program, which brought together multi-year support for regional arts facilities, and the development and support of regional touring programs. This ensures Victoria has an active and vibrant statewide network of professional regional performing arts centres and galleries that enliven their communities and present diverse and high quality programs.

The $3 million VicArts Grants Program, which consolidates Arts Victoria's contestable grants programs for the independent arts sector into a simpler, more flexible program that encourages creative innovation, with two contestable funding rounds a year.

Strategic Initiatives, which will include targeted support and programs to address strategic Government objectives. Initially, this will include the creation of a new Asia engagement program, strengthening Victoria's leadership in arts in education, and a continuing focus on the Government's critical four year investment in the Victorian College of the Arts, literature initiatives, and Indigenous arts development.

Minister Victoria concluded "since the creation of Arts Victoria 40 years ago, government funding has played an important role in the growth and development of our arts sector, in nurturing local creative talent, and ensuring there are quality ar