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Building skills and communities: Creative Australia invests $12 million in 246 creative projects 

The $12 million investment will support 246 projects spanning First Nations arts, literature, theatre, circus, visual arts, dance, emerging and experimental, community arts and cultural development.

Dec 11, 2024

Creative Australia has announced the outcomes of its latest investment in arts projects, supporting the creation of new works, building skills and pathways for artists, and connecting Australian stories to new audiences and markets. 

The $12 million investment will support 246 projects spanning First Nations arts, literature, theatre, circus, visual arts, dance, emerging and experimental, community arts and cultural development.  

This round of investment also includes a boost for Australian contemporary music, thanks to $1 million invested through Music Australia

Director of Arts Investment Alice Nash  said:   

“This significant investment will help spur the creative ambitions of our nation, building skills and pathways for young people into creative industries, championing access and participation in the arts, and reflecting the many stories of contemporary Australia. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of this investment during 2025 and beyond.”

Among the highlights of the latest investment: 

  • Exciting projects spanning a range of genres, including comics and graphic novels (Papercuts Comics Festival, Perth Comic Festival and Comics off the Page); circus ( ‘Into Space’, a new contemporary circus work for families by ARC Circus Co); and musical theatre playwright Hilary Bell and composer Greta Gertler Gold supported for script and score development for the musical ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’)
  • Nas Campanella’s children’s book All the Ways I Feel, made accessible for Australian children and families. The book explores how a child who is blind experiences summer
  • Garrigarrang Badu, a new work by the all-female intergenerational Jannawi Dance Clan, blending dance, music and language to strengthen community and culture
  • First Nations theatre collective A Daylight Connection to take their work A Nightime Travesty to international audiences at Kia Mau Festival, Aotearoa
  • A new contemporary dance work by Raghav Handa, Superhero, to make its international debut, bringing together dancers and musicians from Australia and India in partnership with Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts (ACMA)
  • Educational programs for young people, including fbi.radio’s Soundwaves, empowering emerging creatives to join the community radio and audio sector
  • Compelling visual arts projects and exhibitions, including Jemima Wyman’s career solo at QUT Museum, which will trace her practice across installation, video, performance, photography and painting
  • Contemporary music initiatives, backed by Music Australia, and support for artists and groups including Australian Vocal Ensemble, Phantastic Ferniture, Velvet Bloom, and the Yours and Owls Festival First Nations program. 

For a full list of recipients, visit our Awarded Grants page, or read more about Creative Australia on our website


Media contact:

Brianna Roberts
Media Manager, Creative Australia
Mobile: 0498 123 541
Email: brianna.roberts@creative.gov.au

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We acknowledge the many Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and honour their Elders past and present.

We respect their deep enduring connection to their lands, waterways and surrounding clan groups since time immemorial. We cherish the richness of First Nations Peoples’ artistic and cultural expressions.

We are privileged to gather on this Country and through this website to share knowledge, culture and art now, and with future generations.

First Nations Peoples should be aware that this website may contain images or names of people who have died.

Image alt text

We acknowledge the many Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and honour their Elders past and present.

We respect their deep enduring connection to their lands, waterways, and surrounding clan groups since time immemorial. We cherish the richness of First Nations peoples’ artistic and cultural expressions. We are privileged to gather on this Country and to share knowledge, culture and art, now and with future generations.

Art by Jordan Lovegrove