Major funding boost for Meredith Music Festival, Lorne Sculpture Biennale and MoPA

Three local arts organisation have received a major boost today to recover from COVID-19, sharing in more than $1 million under the fourth batch of grants from the Morrison Government’s $200 million Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund.

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said this $40 million in funding is especially important during such a difficult period for the sector.

“Demand for RISE funding has been significant since it opened last year. The latest funding will be allocated immediately to create more than 56,000 employment opportunities across the country,” Minister Fletcher said.

“Our commitment to these organisations will play an important part in rebuilding our local arts and entertainment sectors, and will assist in the long-term sustainability of cultural and creative organisations.”

Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson said the funding will provide critical support for local arts organisations and assist local communities and economies to restart from the pandemic.

“I am pleased to announce the following successful recipients:

• Lorne Sculpture Biennale 2021: $131,910 for the vibrant festival celebrating the best of Australian and international sculpture where the Lorne foreshore becomes the centerpiece for outdoor sculptures.

• Meredith Music Festival and Golden Plains Festival: $651,000 to reactivate Meredith Music Festival and Golden Plains Festival in 2021/22 to celebrate the 30th and 15th year anniversary milestones, respectively; and

• The Museum of Play and Art received $277,578 to create the exhibitions to bring MoPA, the celebrated museum where children and families learn to play through the creative arts, to a new Melbourne location.

In March 2020, the Morrison Government announced the RISE Fund would receive an extra $125 million, building on an original commitment of $75 million.

To date, the Government has already allocated $140 million of the $200 million RISE Fund, creating more than 145,000 job opportunities and expanding cultural and creative experiences for audiences across Australia.

The Morrison Government is investing more than $1 billion into the arts and creative sector in 2021- 22.

The full list of Batch Four RISE recipients will be published by the Office for the Arts in the coming weeks at: www.arts.gov.au/covid-19-update

30 July 2021