An Island Inspired - New programs to foster growth in arts

New programs to enrich Tasmania's arts industry were announced today.

The series of initiatives was driven by community consultation over the discussion paper, An Island Inspired.

They include:

• A $49,000 fund to develop Aboriginal arts practice to be boosted annually to $150,000 to support Aboriginal artists and preserve and revitalise Aboriginal artforms and traditions.
  
• Recurrent funding for a new $30,000 Cultural Exchange Program
  
  
• A $125,000 infrastructure fund for organisations to help make a significant difference to the everyday existence of individual artists and arts organisations across the state.
  
  
• A new Premier's fund in partnership with the Australia Business Arts Foundation and Veolia Environmental Services will encourage dollar-for-dollar funding through business-arts partnerships.
  
  Announcing the initiatives in Launceston, the Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts, Michelle O'Byrne, said the programs will improve viability and strengthen artistic practice.
  
  "More than 100 people participated in An Island Inspired forums last year and 95 submissions were received," Ms O'Byrne said.
  
  "This valuable information, together with advice from the Tasmanian Arts Advisory Board, has assisted the development of the grant programs and increased funding to existing projects."
  
  "Additionally, some exciting new arts programs and initiatives are being developed in line with the An Island Inspired goals to develop new directions for the arts and arts funding in Tasmania."
  
  The response to An Island Inspired and guidelines and criteria for the funding programs are available in the Arts Tasmania 2009 Grants and Loans Handbook and on the Arts Tasmania website www.arts.tas.gov.au/grants