The Playing WA 2021-2022 second funding round has provided more than $564,000 to support six performances, ranging from an original comedic cabaret, to singing and yarning concerts, allowing these shows to reach new audiences in regional Western Australia.
The funding is part of the McGowan Government's Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program (RACIP), which aims to increase creative activity across the State. This funding boost brings the total investment in regional touring to over $4.7 million since 2019.
Touring to regional WA develops the experience and regional knowledge of the organisations and performers involved and allows regional audiences to access new and diverse arts and cultural experiences that build vibrant and connected communities.
The following six initiatives were successful in the Playing WA 2021-2022 funding round 2:
- Natural Wings, supported by CircuitWest, was awarded $113,219 for She is Strong. Celebrating the hidden world of circus women, the tour will include a residency and is touring to the Goldfields-Esperance, Mid-West and Wheatbelt regions.
- YUCK Circus, supported by CircuitWest, received $93,515 to support a regional tour of Deadset, a tongue in cheek celebration of 'Australiana' to four communities in the Great Southern, Kimberley and Wheatbelt regions.
- Annette Carmichael was awarded $99,548 to tour a collaborative dance - The Stars Descend - in partnership with ecological organisation, Gondwana Link, in the Goldfields-Esperance, Great Southern, Peel and South-West regions.
- Phil Walleystack Indigenous Arts Foundation Limited was awarded $61,655 for the PWS Indigenous Art Foundation Yarning Singing Tour to travel to Bunbury and Margaret River in the South-West Region.
- Golden Age Productions, supported by CircuitWest, received $81,563 to support a regional tour of the Golden Age Girls comedic cabaret to the Mid-West and Pilbara regions.
- Artrage Inc was awarded $115,079 to present The Rocky Horror Picture Show Immersive 4D Specular in the Goldfields-Esperance, Great Southern, Perth, South-West and Wheatbelt regions.
For more information about programs that fund regional WA communities visit the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries website.
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
"I am delighted that these six excellent performances will take to the road regionally.
"The impact that culture and the arts can have on communities should not be underestimated and regional audiences deserve to experience these performances too.
"The McGowan Government recognises the value in investing in Western Australia's regional arts programs to help build vibrant, creative communities."
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"This funding supports the creative individuals and organisations involved as well as the regional towns they visit.
"Regional venues, entertainment centres, surrounding businesses and tourism enterprises all benefit from the additional activity these tours bring.
"This is a great line-up of different performances and I know the regions will welcome them with open arms."
