Major acts heading to town

BENDIGO audiences will soon be able to enjoy performances from The Australian Ballet and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra close to home with State Government funding recently handed out for a suite of regional arts tours.

Through the Touring Victoria program, the acts will stop in town to share with crowds what they do best, with the grants aimed at supporting cultural organisations, performers and creatives get their productions to regional and outer-metropolitan areas of the state.

More than $765,000 was awarded for eight different tours in the latest round of funding announced by Minister for Creative Industries, Danny Pearson, last week.

“It’s fantastic to see so many wonderful arts events and cultural performances being presented at locations right across the state,” he said.

“These programs ensure more Victorians can enjoy great productions in venues large and small, and they bolster creative workers who deliver so much for their communities.”

During their regional tour, the MSO will deliver concerts, free pre-concert lectures, school and community workshops and rehearsals with community choirs.

The orchestra is booked for concerts in Wangaratta, Warragul, Shepparton, Ballarat and Mildura, among other locations, with The Australian Ballet also set to head to the border town.