MoPA to keep playing through RISE grant

The Museum of Play and Art (MoPA) is among three arts organisations in the Geelong region to share in more than $1 million under the fourth batch of grants from the Morrison Government’s $200 million Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund.

The Geelong play-based children’s museum received $277,578 to expand the exhibitions that comprise MoPA to a new Melbourne location.

Opening in the Wintergarden building in early 2020, MoPA’s exhibits and activities have been aligned with the Early Learning Framework for kindergarten-aged children and with the Victorian Curriculum for Children in early primary school.

The Lorne Sculpture Biennale also received a grant through the RISE Fund, as did the Meredith Music Festival and Golden Plains Music Festival.

Last week, Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson said the funding would provide critical support for local arts organisations and assist local communities and economies to restart from the pandemic.

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher said the latest $40 million in funding was especially important during such a difficult period for the sector.

“Demand for RISE funding has been significant since it opened last year,” Mr Fletcher said.

The latest funding will be allocated immediately to create more than 56,000 employment opportunities across the country.

“Our commitment to these organisations will play an important part in rebuilding our local arts and entertainment sectors, and will assist in the long-term sustainability of cultural and creative organisations.”

In March 2020, the Morrison Government announced the RISE Fund would receive an extra $125 million, building on an original commitment of $75 million.

To date, $140 million of the $200 million RISE Fund has been allocated, creating more than 145,000 job opportunities and expanding cultural and creative experiences for audiences across Australia.

The full list of Batch Four RISE recipients will be published by the Office for the Arts in the coming weeks at the Morrison Government’s Office of the Arts website.