Toowoomba Selected to Develop New Theatre Productions

Toowoomba Selected to Develop New Theatre Productions 

Toowoomba will become a Queensland theatre hotspot with funding of $300,000 over three years to create, stage and tour locally-produced work, Premier and Arts Minister Anna Bligh announced today.

"Under the Regional Stages initiative, jointly funded by the Queensland Government and the Australia Council for the Arts, Toowoomba's Empire Theatre will engage with local arts groups to develop new work," Ms Bligh said.  "A new youth arts company and innovative programs involving contemporary dance, music and film will get off the ground with this new funding."

Toowoomba North Labor member Kerry Shine said the funding would make a difference to the cultural life of Toowoomba. "This will give new life to cultural activities in this city and I am thrilled that Toowoomba was successful in gaining this arts funding," he said.

Ms Bligh said the Empire Theatre joins the Gold Coast Arts Centre and the Moncrieff Theatre in Bundaberg as the three locations selected to participate following a competitive process."Regional Stages offers unprecedented collaborations between local government and industry, community members and professional and emerging arts practitioners," she said. "There is potential for work developed under the initiative to become product for Queensland-wide tours."

Ms Bligh said Regional Stages would be complemented by the $1.9 million per annum touring fund for 2010 and 2011 which offered communities a selection of the best arts experiences available for touring."For the first time, communities, local arts councils and schools can choose from a menu of tasty touring options, selecting the programs they want to see," Ms Bligh said.

"The new touring menu for 2010 is now in place following a highly-competitive application process with cabaret, puppetry, theatre, jazz, contemporary dance and music, theatre for children and young people, world music, circus and comedy all available.

"The menu for 2011 is due to be selected and available in May through arTour website www.artour.com.au so communities can plan their entertainment options well in advance.

Ms Bligh said the touring fund and Regional Stages were both initiatives from Coming to a Place Near You: Touring Strategy for performing arts in Queensland 2009-2014, which addressed today's demographics and the high expectations of Queensland audiences.  "My government is leading the way in developing new arts audiences by offering quality product in line with what people want to see," the Premier said.

Media contact: 07 32244500

04/03/2010