The McGowan Government's Made in WA funding will support four successful recipients to bring their Western Australian projects to fruition.
Known for their intercultural performance work, Marrugeku will create and perform a new dance project exploring the Malay community in Broome. The $150,000 boost will allow 'Mutiara' to premiere in Broome in 2023.
A new interactive children's music and performance work will come out of the Great Southern region, with Breaksea's production 'The Magical Weedy Seadragon' to be supported with $110,000 funding. The work will be staged at Albany Entertainment Centre as part of the 2023 Albany Maritime Festival.
'Creatura', an original in-situ festival theatre show, will premiere in 2024 at the Gascoyne Travelling Arts Festival with support of $148,848. Yamatji narrators tell the story of Creatura, a Chinese dragon hatched by the Gascoyne River who journeys throughout the region to meet a multicultural cast of historical ghosts.
City of Busselton's new performing arts centre, Saltwater Busselton, will bring 'Beyond the Vasse' to the stage with funding of $148,687. The musical comedy will feature a professional creative team with Aboriginal leadership and a cast of professional actors working alongside non-professional actors and chorus.
Made in WA has delivered over $980,000 in funding since 2020 to support the commissioning of seven new performing arts works in regional WA. The Made in WA funding forms part of the McGowan Government's Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program which aims to create economic development, tourism and social cohesion by supporting cultural and creative industries.
For more information on regional arts funding in WA, visit the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries' website.
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
"I'm proud the McGowan Government provides funding to support the great stories that come out of our communities right across WA.
"Investing in the development of new performing arts work, made right here in WA, also improves economic and employment growth in WA's regions.
"I look forward to seeing the exciting projects that come out of this funding."
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"Western Australia has high-class creatives across the State and this funding assists in linking up projects with regional arts and entertainment centres so that we can keep creating quality shows here in WA.
"The unique stories of place and culture that come out of our regional communities are gold. They show diverse and unique experiences that need to be shared.
"Funding from regional grants programs is vital if we are to maintain vibrant regional centres."
