Growing our vibrant cultural and creative industry

The Tasmanian Government is committed to supporting our strong and vibrant cultural and creative industries, and since the beginning of the pandemic, as Minister for the Arts I have delivered a comprehensive package of financial support for the arts, screen and cultural sectors in response to COVID-19, totalling almost $13 million in new and ongoing support measures.

This includes the $2.5 million Arts and Cultural Support Fund to support performers and

artists to bounce back from COVID-19 and produce new work.

I am pleased to announce that 33 activities will share in more than $1 million in grant funds through the latest round of Arts Tasmania’s 'New Work for New Markets' initiative.

These funds will support Tasmanian artists and arts organisations to undertake research, develop new works and test new ideas – helping the sector to remain active, vibrant and viable as we move to the next stage of COVID-19 recovery.

The supported activities will professionally engage over 210 local artists to expand their skills, build new partnerships and develop new markets – locally, nationally and internationally.

Activities supported in this round include:

• Mature Artist Dance Experience Inc. (MADE), with $48,845 towards the creative development of two works of contemporary dance in Hobart;
• Launceston musician Jack McClaine, with $29,910 to collaborate with local artists and compose a new body of work that examines the relationships between Tasmania, music, nature and place;
• Elizabeth Shu, based in Devonport, with $17,620 towards developing a digital poetry book for online audiences; and
• Hobart’s Vibrance Festival, with $41,100 towards developing the popular street art festival into an augmented reality experience that can be accessed across Tasmania.

This support is in addition to $40,810 provided for 11 projects under the Artsbridge program which provides critical support for travel as our arts sector gets back to touring, collaborating, and taking up opportunities interstate as we transition to living with COVID-19.

And in further good news, I am pleased to announce that seven artists have each been provided a $10,000 grant through Arts Tasmania’s Education Residencies program to work within schools across 2022 and 2023.

This opportunity provides staff and students the opportunity to work alongside a practising artist, inspiring creative development for Tasmanian students.

Funding recommendations were made by independent expert peers drawn from the Cultural and Creative Industries Expert Register.

Our Government remains strongly focused on sustaining support for our diverse arts sector, and we welcome further growth and momentum over the coming year, as a result of our Government’s investments in our vital and diverse cultural and creative industries.

A full list of funding recipients can be found at https://www.arts.tas.gov.au/grants_and_loans/past_decisions_2022