Geelong creative organisations share in funding

GEELONG Gallery and Platform Arts are among the 113 Victorian creative entities sharing in $85 million in funding from the Victorian government.

Part of the Victorian government’s four-year Creative State 2025 strategy, the funding opens up Creative Victoria investment to new and diverse organisations across a broader array of creative sectors than ever before.

The funding, which supports organisations over either four or two years, has been provided through the new Creative Enterprises and Creative Ventures programs.

There is also extra funding through the Sustaining Creative Organisations COVID-recovery program.

Locally, Geelong Gallery, which was established in 1896 and is one of Australia’s leading art galleries, received $560,000; and Platform Arts, which gives young people opportunities to develop their own creative work and practice, and be part of an inclusive, diverse creative community, received $400,000.

Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson announced the recipients earlier this month.

“Victoria is home to dynamic organisations that fuel our creative economy, provide career pathways and jobs and deliver a stunning range of creative experiences for Victorians,” he said.

“From internationally acclaimed companies to grassroots collectives, social enterprises, fashion labels and festivals, we’re making sure Victoria’s outstanding arts practitioners have the support they need.

“This is an investment in the future of our creative industries and the thousands of jobs they support that reflects the diversity of Victoria’s talent and our communities.”

Reflecting the strategy’s ‘First Peoples First’ principle, Koorie Heritage Trust, Songlines Aboriginal Music Corporation, Baluk Arts and Kaiela Arts are receiving funding boosts.

Five other First Peoples-led organisations are receiving multi-year support for the first time – Joel Bray Dance Company, Na Djinang Circus, fashion label Gammin Threads, Jacob Boehme Company and The Torch Project.

The funded organisations are spread across Victoria and including Bendigo’s Arena Theatre Company, Ballarat International Foto Biennale, Castlemaine State Festival, Arts Mildura, Community Burrinja Cultural Centre in the Dandenong Ranges, Warrnambool’s Find your Voice Collective, and Float Inc in Lake Tyers Beach.

Showing the diversity of Victoria’s creative talent, other recipients include Arts Project Australia, which works with artists with intellectual disabilities; acclaimed contemporary dance in the form of the Stephanie Lake Company; Asian-Australian literary platform Liminal; and Australia’s first and only Deaf Arts Festival, FLOW.

For the full list, head to the Creative Victoria website.