The Morrison Government is helping the Victorian arts sector get back on stage, with 18 organisations across the state to share in more than $5 million under the second batch of grants from the $200 million Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund.
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the latest RISE funding will begin to flow immediately to creative sector organisations throughout Victoria, which are seeking to restart, re-imagine or create new cultural and creative activities.
"The Arts and entertainment sector is pivotal to Victoria's identity, supporting cultural expression, community and social wellbeing, along with significant employment and economic benefits for the state," Minister Fletcher said.
"That is why we're excited to see more than $5 million flow immediately to rejuvenate the sector, which will support 18 innovative projects and create more than 3,100 job opportunities across Australia."
One of the largest grant recipients in Victoria is Agency Projects Trust, who will receive $785,000 in funding to partner with 25 Indigenous Art Centres, to transform their community collections and galleries into interactive and immersive experiences.
"This is an exciting community-owned and operated project that will empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, culturally and linguistically diverse artists, and artists with disability to create unique and energising arts and cultural experiences to attract larger and new audiences to their centres," Minister Fletcher said.
Peking Duk Touring will receive more than $90,000 in funding to perform in 15 regional centres throughout Australia in 2021 to audiences of over 20,000 attendees.
"This grant is directly supporting Australia's energetic contemporary music scene and will in turn provide work for crew, suppliers, managers, agents, promoters and production companies throughout the country and support affiliated industries that rely upon live touring" Minister Fletcher said.
On 25 March the Government announced the RISE Fund will be boosted with an extra $125 million to support around 230 projects and up to 90,000 jobs, building on an original commitment of $75 million.
In November 2020 more than $60 million in funding was announced under Batch One of the Fund.
The successful Victorian projects listed below are part of 61 projects funded under Batch Two of RISE. The full list of Batch Two recipients will be announced in the coming weeks at: www.arts.gov.au/covid-19-update
