- The Federal Government has forked out over $7 million this week to help inject new life into the entertainments and arts sectors in Queensland, New South Wales, and Western Australia
- The funding is part of the $200 million Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund, which is designed to support live performances and events
- The program was initially designed to provide $75 million in funding, but this figure was bolstered by $125 million last week
- In the latest batch of funding announced today, NSW will receive $4.8 million, Queensland will receive $2 million, and WA will receive $800,000
- The funding will support events like the Sydney Film Festival, Queensland’s International Movie Convention, and the Perth International Cabaret Festival
- The funding is expected to provide almost 16,000 jobs and support 61 creative projects around the nation
The Federal Government has forked out over $7 million this week to help inject new life into the entertainments and arts sectors in Queensland, New South Wales, and Western Australia.
Over 30 creative organisations across the nation will share the funding, which is part of the government’s $200 million Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund.
This program is designed to revamp live performance venues and events after COVID-19 restrictions left the national arts industry in tatters.
Today’s latest round of funding under the program is expected to create almost 16,000 job opportunities in the arts and entertainment industry, with New South Wales copping the majority of the funds.
Festival and convention support
Over $4.8 million will go to 18 organisations across NSW. This includes over half a million dollars for the 2021 Sydney Film Festival and $370,000 to fund The Sydney Fringe festival in 2021. The Bangarra Dance Theatre will receive more than $220,000 for a production showcasing the culture of the Torres Strait.
“NSW is renowned for its vibrant and diverse creative sector, which supports cultural expression, community and social wellbeing, and provides significant employment and economic benefits for the state,” Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said.
Meanwhile, $2 million will go to Queensland, with $250,000 of this to help fund the National Association of Cinema Operators – Australia. This organisation will use the funds to put on the Australian International Movie Convention, which is the largest event of this kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
Over $200,000 will go to putting on a “reimagined COVID-safe” Blue on Broadbeach festival, which is expected to have 85,000 attendees this year.
Finally, Western Australia will cop $800,000 of the funds, with around $200,000 to go towards the state’s International Art Space, which supports artists undertaking residencies in rural locations across WA.
The Perth International Cabaret Festival will pocket $150,0000 for its inaugural event coming up in June.
Bolstered RISE Fund
Today’s round of funding comes just a week after the Federal Government announced an extra $125 million to bolster the RISE fund, which was initially designed to provide a total of $75 million in funding to live performance and the arts.
This initial funding was part of a $250 million COVID-19 rescue package from June 2020.
In November last year, more than $60 million in live performance and arts funding was announced in the first batch of funding. This week’s second batch of funding will fund over 61 creative projects across Australia.