Opportunities

The Australia Council for the Arts is delighted to announce the opening of a new Indigenous Music Theatre Initiative, which will provide support for Indigenous musicians and theatre makers to create and present innovative new music theatre works.

Individual Indigenous artists, as well as groups and organisations which include Indigenous key personnel with creative control are invited to apply for this initiative. Applicants can apply for funding of up to $30,000 towards any singular or multiple stages of development, including creative development of a new work, a second stage development and presentation of a new work.

Previously, the Australia Council has provided support to works such as Pecan Summer (Deborah Cheetam), Dirtsong (The Black Arm Band) and Soul Music (Stephen Helper, Tony Brigs and Marcus Cowora). As part of a broader strategy to resource the development of new music theatre works the Music and Theatre Boards have made a commitment to provide further support for new Indigenous Music Theatre works.

“The Australia Council Music and Theatre Boards are thrilled to join together to offer a new opportunity for Indigenous artists ” says Matthew Hindson, Chair of the Australia Council Music Board. “Elements from different areas of artistic practice often merge together in Indigenous culture, to create works with a cohesive blend of artforms. We are pleased to have found a way to reflect that practice through our funding programs.”

The initiative is the result of a partnership between the Australia Council’s Music Board and Theatre Board. The Indigenous Music Theatre initiative follows on from a three-year investment that the Music and Theatre Boards have provided to three partners for the development of new music theatre works.

Applications for the initiative will close 12 March 2012. For more details about the Indigenous Music Theatre initiative click here or contact Australia Council staff member Morwenna Collett (m.collett@australiacouncil.gov.au or 02 9215 9301).