“I am very pleased to announce that Regional Arts NSW Limited will receive over $77,000 towards the opening ceremony of Artlands Dubbo 2016, taking place in October this year,” Mr Coulton said.

 

“This is an exciting opportunity for local artists right across the region to take part in an important event on the national arts calendar and to be able to create a high quality experience for the community of Dubbo and surrounding areas to enjoy.”

 

The funding forms part of the Government’s Festivals Australia program that supports participation and audience engagement in local festivals and experiences.

 

Minister for the Arts, Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield said more than $750,000 has been committed to 18 projects to assist community members living in regional and remote Australia to participate in or attend arts driven experiences at a festival or community celebration.

 

“This funding round includes both single and multi-year projects that will take place across six states and territories and represent a range of art forms from music, circus arts, community arts, multimedia, digital arts and craft,” Minister Fifield said.

 

“I am particularly pleased that this latest round of funding not only represents a range of different art forms but also provides opportunities for sharing cultures, developing partnerships, community participation and more inclusive experiences for people with disability.”

 

The Festivals Australia program complements other Australian Government funding aimed at supporting cultural activity in regional communities, delivered through the National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach program, the Visions of Australia program and the Regional Arts Fund.

 

With annual funding of approximately $1.2 million a year, Festivals Australia delivers two funding rounds each year, with allocation of funding decided on an open and competitive basis.

 

More information about Festivals Australia can be found on the Ministry for the Arts website http://arts.gov.au/festivals-australia