Local Giants Program Invests Majorly in Regional Arts Creative Capital
Performing Arts Connections (PAC) Australia, Performing Lines and Regional Arts Australia are thrilled to announce the launch of Local Giants; an ambitious new capacity building program which seeks to unlock the cultural ambition and potential of regional Australia.
With support from the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund—an Australian Government initiative, the Australian Government through the Regional Arts Fund, and the NSW Government through Create NSW, Local Giants will be delivered across 2021 – 2023 in partnership with regional partner venues in South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.
Speaking to the inception of the program the partnership of Performing Lines, Regional Arts Australia and PAC Australia have said that Local Giants is responding directly to consultation with regional colleagues and seeks to create the foundations for new models of working that elevate the work of regional artists and artworkers.
“Local Giants has been modelled so as to respond to the needs of the regional arts sector, ensuring long term cultural and economic sustainability, boosting local capacity and reducing reliance on conventional import models.
Recognising the cultural leadership of regional performing arts centres, Local Giants aims to resource these centres; allowing them to realise their ambitions of nurturing local arts, commissioning new works, investigating ambitious presentation models and promoting social cohesion through a thriving local sector. This multi-year, multivalent program is flexible and adaptable to local context and designed with a view to expand in future years into regional communities across the whole of Australia, creating opportunities for large numbers of independent artists, arts workers and producers who may otherwise not have access to such resources.”
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP said this collaborative investment is invaluable for the sector and is supporting a sustainable future for regional artists:
“I am pleased that with $400,000 under the Morrison Government’s Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund, and $336,672 through the Regional Arts Fund Strategic Recovery Program, Local Giants will support regional artists, arts workers and organisations to develop pathways, build partnerships and strengthen skills.
Funding through RISE alone will support the creation of more than 270 jobs in the regions.”
The Program consists of several intersecting parts including a Regional Producers Career Development Program, Regional Artist Residencies, and New Regional Work Co-Commissions, kicked off this weekend with the first of three Regional Artist Residencies; this time hosted in partnership with Country Arts SA, at Pichi Richi Park, Quorn.
Similar regional residencies will be held at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre in NSW, as well as a soon to be announced venue in Queensland, in early 2022.
Between Performing Lines, Regional Arts Australia and PAC Australia, the organisations bring a breadth of experience in artist development and capacity building for local communities. As such the Local Giants program has been developed after extensive consultation with regional artists and arts communities to seize opportunities for growth and innovation in the regional arts sector.
In its first phase Local Giants will provide opportunities for 72 artists, arts workers and producers, across the three residencies and producer platform, resulting in the development of up to three new regional works.
EOIs for the Regional Producers Platform will open on 17 January 2022.
Partners & Acknowledgments
Local Giants is supported by the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund—an Australian Government initiative, the Australian Government through the Regional Arts Fund, and the NSW Government through Create NSW.
