Senator the Hon. George Brandis S.C.

Minister for the Arts and Sport

Some of Australia’s most remote communities are on the destination list for the latest round of Playing Australia grants, announced today by the Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator George Brandis.

“The Australian Government’s Playing Australia programme helps arts companies to share their talent and performances with audiences outside the established venues in capital cities,” Senator Brandis said.

“Playing Australia is a very competitive grants programme and under this round of funding 17 tours will receive a total of $2,454,304 in financial assistance.”

Among the grants for tours that begin after 1 July 2007:

• $222 933 for the Australian Ballet to take Les Sylphides/Graduation Ball/The Sleeping Beauty Act 3 (a celebration of the Ballets Russes) to venues including Broken Hill, Port Pirie, Whyalla and Darwin;
• $373 796 for HIT Productions to stage 159 performances of the David Williamson play The Club in 79 venues including Horsham, Portland, Griffith, Taree, Coffs Harbour, Bundaberg, Proserpine, Broken Hill, Canberra, Echuca, Carnavon, Moora, Bruce Rock, Townsville, Rockhampton, Orange, Wagga Wagga and Bendigo;
• $15 457 for Artback NT Arts Touring to tour the one man comedy show Sean Choolburra Live and Deadly to 10 venues including Pine Creek, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Ali Curung and Alice Springs; and
• $137 519 for Tura New Music to take Crossing Roper Bar (a collaboration between Paul Grabowski's Australian Art Orchestra and the musicians and dancers of Ngukurr in Arnhem Land) to 11 venues including Nhulunbuy, Wurrenranginy, Halls Creek, Wangkajunka, Fitzroy Crossing, Derby, One Arm Point and Broome.

Playing Australia has assisted performing arts tours since 1992. Visit www.dcita.gov.au/artsfunding to access the Playing Australia website which has full details of the program and a list of current funding recipients.

22 May 2007
Media contact: Travis Bell 0448 950 248