In one of its biggest funding rounds in recent years, the Australia Council for the Arts (soon to be Creative Australia) is investing $2.8 million to support artists touring their works and performances nationally, including to regional and remote communities.
The funding will provide valuable support to artists to help them develop their craft and/or performances, as well as reaching and engaging new audiences right across the country. In total, 27 groups or individual artists have been awarded funding to tour across Australia, reaching audiences in more than 200 locations.
The funding includes:
- Playing Australia ($1,651,046) – supporting 7 performing arts projects to tour to 93 locations – with 73% taking place in regional and remote communities.
- Contemporary Music Touring Program ($448,383) – supporting 17 original contemporary music tours to more than 138 unique locations, with 61% taking place in regional, remote, and very remote communities.
- Contemporary Touring Initiative – ($693,999) – supporting 3 contemporary visual artists and craft practitioners to show their significant exhibitions of work to national audiences, with 69% taking place in regional communities from 2023 to 2026.
Australia Council CEO Adrian Collette said: “We are delighted to be able to support artists through this investment and hope it not only enhances their touring experience but enables them to build new and loyal audiences in places they may not have previously visited.
“For example, we know that for musicians, in particular, it’s really important to get out on the road and tour to build their touring experience and audience. We’ll be looking at further opportunities to support contemporary music touring as we build Music Australia.”
Among the many grant recipients are:
- Kaytlyn Johnson – The Tasmanian Acoustic Tour Kaytlyn is Palawa and a 2022 Young Australian of the Year from Tasmania. This will be a homecoming tour (Contemporary Music Touring Program)
- Aviva Endean – The Cloud Maker A three-nation collaboration, the Cloud Maker will tour in Victoria, Tasmania and NSW, featuring Sunny Kim, Aviva Endean and Te Kahureremoa Taumata. (Contemporary Music Touring Program)
- Accessible Arts Inc (NSW) National Regional 2024 Tour of “Are You Pulling My Leg?” A disability-led comedy work increasing visibility of artists with disability and providing capacity building to regional venues by touring with sector-specific disability-led training for presenting venues. (Playing Australia)
- Flying Fruit Fly Foundation – Flying Fruit Fly Circus presents TEMPO, a Regional Tour to 12 venues in NSW, VIC, QLD & NT Exposing young audiences in regional areas to professional work made by young circus artists (Playing Australia)
- Adrian Schmidt Mumm – Slowmango x The Bait Fridge Performance and Workshop Tour in East Arnhem Land Innovative music tour to remote Northern Territory with deep community engagement. (Playing Australia)
- Museums & Galleries NSW – The Good | Anna Louise Richardson – National Regional Touring Exhibition & Engagement Program A tour of a West Australian regional artist focusing on the experience of living in rural Australia and exploring contemporary Australian rural life. (Contemporary Touring Initiative)
A full list of recipients can be found on the Australia Council’s website.
