The Hon Rod Kemp was Minister for the Arts and Sport from Friday 23 November 2001 to Tuesday 30 January 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.
Ongoing funding for the Major Festivals Initiative
The Australian Government has committed $3 million over the next four years to the Australia Council for the Arts to ensure the continuation of the successful Major Festivals Initiative.
“This ongoing funding for the Major Festivals Initiative reflects the Australian Government’s commitment to support uniquely Australian performing arts productions that have the capacity to engage audiences on national and international stages,” said Senator Kemp.
The Major Festivals Initiative supports the commissioning, development and showcasing of new, large-scale Australian performing arts productions for Australia’s major international arts festivals. These include the Adelaide Festival, Brisbane Festival, Darwin Festival, Melbourne International Arts Festival, Perth International Arts Festival, Sydney Festival and the Ten Days on the Island Festival ( Tasmania).
A review of the Major Festivals Initiative found that the programme has been successful in generating strong interest in new Australian work from audiences across Australia and the world. The review also found there is considerable untapped potential for investment by international partners in new Australian work.
The productions supported through this Initiative reflect the strength and diversity of Australian culture, including the wealth of Indigenous cultures and the cultural diversity brought to Australia through immigration and from the Asia–Pacific region.
First introduced by the Government in 1996, the Major Festivals Initiative has now been extended three times to a funding level of $750,000 a year.
Supporting Information
Why is this important?
- The ongoing funding for the Major Festivals Initiative will continue to support the development of uniquely Australian productions to an internationally competitive standard, for showcasing at Australia’s leading international arts festivals. In the longer-term, this will give Australian productions the potential to tour internationally.
Who will benefit?
- Australian performing arts companies and performing artists, as well as Australian audiences.
- Indigenous Australians whose stories have been told through some of the projects supported by this initiative.
- Australia ’s image generally with the potential to include partnerships with overseas/international festivals seeking to invest in Australian work.
What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?
- Funding of $3 million has been committed over the next four years.
What have we done in the past?
- The Australia Council has been managing this initiative on behalf of the Government and since its inception in 1996, 37 new works have been developed and presented at all major festivals. Of the productions supported to date, all of which were jointly commissioned and presented by two or more major Australian arts festivals, nearly half have gone on to secure tours with significant international exposure and strong critical acclaim.
- For example, Sandakan Threnody, a Jonathan Mills/Lou Weis production, was seen at the Singapore festival in 2005 after its presentation at the Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth festivals in 2004.
When will the initiative conclude?
- The additional funding will enable the Major Festivals Initiative to continue through until 2009-10.
8 May 2006
Media contact: Michael Christo, Minister’s Office 03 9650 7274 or 0409 040276