The Australia Council for the Arts, in partnership with Arts Tasmania, is heading to Hobart on Tuesday 7 December to hold a public funding forum about how to get cash out of the Australia Council.

Artists and arts organisations of all ages, shapes and sizes are invited to come along and find out about available funding opportunities. Australia Council CEO Kathy Keele and its Director of Community Partnerships Frank Panucci will present the free forum, which will cover the full spectrum of what the council offers, what it looks for in arts projects, how to apply and how applications are considered.

Previous funding forums across metro and regional Australia have attracted a wide range of artists, arts organisations and arts-interested folk, many of whom have not previously received funding.

“We support a large number of artists across the state, as well as arts organisations such as the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, the Tasmanian Writers’ Centre and Terrapin Puppet Theatre,” says Kathy Keele.

“Both the Salamanca Arts Centre and the Orchestra are host organisations to our new Geeks in Residence program, which places technically confident artists in creative environments to equip arts workers with skills to work in digital spaces. “

“With Arts Tasmania, we are placing working artists in high schools such as Taroona and Montrose Bay. And with Tasmanian Regional Arts and Tasdance, we have developed the ambitious Tasmanian Community Dance Project.”

“These funding forums help us reach new artists across the country. They’re an important way to let artists know about the funding avenues available, particularly for those artists working in regional areas who remain amongst the lowest paid in our society.”

The Australia Council’s recent Artist careers research shows that while artists living in capital cities earn around 30 percent more than those in regional cities, this income gap has closed over the past eight years – but only due to increased earnings by regional artists from non arts activity.

“The arts in regional Australia face challenges that are distinct from those in the city, particularly around infrastructure, access and proximity to markets,” says Ms Keele. “However, the majority of artists living outside capital cities view it as having a positive effect on their creative practice.”

Australia Council research also shows that Australians are now highly engaged in the arts, but there are fewer opportunities in regional Australia to experience them.

Kathy Keele is also in Hobart to meet with the Tasmanian Arts Advisory Board at Arts Tasmania.

Forum Details

When:   Tuesday 7 December 2:30 – 4:00 pm
Where:  Arts Tasmania, 146 Elizabeth Street, Hobart
Who: This is a free event, all are welcome.
To register: https://creative.gov.au/forums

Media contact: Cameron Woods, 02 92159030, 0412 686548, or c.woods@creative.gov.au