AU · International contemporary art platformCreative Australia has unveiled a funding boost of more than $2 million for national touring programs Playing Australia and the Contemporary Music Touring Program. This investment is set to support a diverse range of live performances, including theatre, dance, puppetry, spoken word, and contemporary music.
Playing Australia will receive $1.5 million to support tours of live theatre, dance, puppetry, and spoken word performances across 53 locations nationwide. Notably, 70 per cent of these performances are planned for regional or remote communities, increasing access to the arts outside major cities.
The Contemporary Music Touring Program will back 20 projects, enabling national tours to reach 98 unique locations. Additional investment from Music Australia will further expand opportunities for Australian musicians to tour nationally.
Among the highlighted projects is FORM Dance Projects’ national tour of Jannawi Dance Clan’s Garrigarrang Badu, a major new work featuring nine female First Nations dancers. Queensland-based inclusive theatre company indelabilityarts will tour Mystery Quest, a participatory performance for children that combines live theatre with interactive gaming to explore themes such as online safety.
Children’s music group The Quokkas will bring performances to towns across Central West New South Wales during school holidays. Contemporary music tours will feature acts including The Belair Lip Bombs, Beddy Rays, Rum Jungle, The Tuck Shop Ladies, Sly Withers, Velvet Bloom, Horrorshow and Grieves, The Cambodian Space Project, Sumner, Lizzy & the Woods, and Melbourne Ska Orchestra.
This investment is intended to strengthen touring networks, support artists and organisations, and deliver high-quality creative experiences to audiences across Australia.
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