NSW Arts Minister Don Harwin has visited Albury with $184,640 for three Border organisations, including $100,000 for MAMA’s 2019 program.
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The Arts and Cultural Organisations grant represents a 40 per cent increase in the gallery’s annual funding, Mr Harwin said.
And with just over $10,000 also announced this morning, the Flying Fruit Fly Circus will run their successful circus skills and leadership program ‘bouncing river kids’ to engage indigenous youth.
Artistic director Anni Davey said it would support 15 to 20 students.
“The funding for bouncing river kids means we can tailor-make a program for our indigenous kids, driving them towards being leaders in the community,” she said.
“We have a partnership with James Fallon High School and we’re engaging their kids to come here for the whole year and do two to three sessions.”
Mr Harwin said MAMA’s increased patronage meant it was deserving of a funding increase.
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He and Liberal candidate for Albury Justin Clancy also visited the heritage-listed pump house on Waterworks Road, which Albury council plans to make into a space for artists.
“That was the recipient of a $1.3 million grant in the first round of the regional cultural fund,” Mr Harwin said.
“We’re also supporting the ‘Aftermath’ program of the Albury LibraryMuseum (with a $74,000 grant), a really interesting collaboration with other small regional museums to tell the story of how World War I impacted communities.
“With that and the support the Flying Fruit Fly Circus is getting, Albury will continue to be a beacon of arts and culture.”
More than 100 arts projects across the state were funded through round one and two of the $100 million regional cultural fund.
The opposition has announced an elected Labor government would increase the regional cultural fund to $200 million and introduce a $40 million regional conservatorium of music fund.
Shadow Arts Minister Walt Secord said he would also direct Create NSW to form a strategy for the industry in regional areas.
“While the Liberals and Nationals are spending $2.26 billion on arts funding in and around Sydney, we’ll give double the arts allocation for the regions and support regional conservatoriums,” he said.
Mr Harwin dismissed the opposition’s position.
“As they say, imitation is the greatest form of flattery, and I’m glad they are now supporting the regional cultural fund having not supporting it in the past,” he said.
“We’ll be announcing our (arts) policy closer to the election.
“People around the state are delighted finally there is a government ensuring they get their fair share.”