Page 3963 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 1 December 2021
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then we will have ceremonies in January, February and March—should help clear the majority of the backlog. We have been looking at some different ways that we might be able to host citizenship ceremonies on a bigger scale, but this is all subject to the health advice.
Arts—COVID-19
MR PETTERSSON: Minister, how is the ACT Government supporting artists through the COVID-19 recovery?
MS CHEYNE: I thank Mr Pettersson for the question. It is well recognised, including by everyone in this place, that artists have had among the most difficult time since COVID hit in March 2020 in Australia. I am pleased to share with the Assembly that the ACT government is standing up for, and supporting, our arts communities with a range of ongoing and new initiatives. I just announced today that 68 Canberra artists, musicians, film makers, performers and other creative practitioners will receive grants through the latest HOMEFRONT and the Arts Activities $5,000 to $50,000 funding rounds.
I am also delighted to announce that Canberra artists and creatives can apply for the next round of $5,000 to $50,000 Arts Activities funding, which opened today. Applications for that will close on 28 February 2022. To support successful Amp It Up! recipients, who represent some of our most beloved ACT live entertainment venues we have extended the performance period for proposed shows under this COVID response program until the end of March 2022. Members will recall that it was initially supposed to be until the end of the November this year. This is obviously in recognition of the disruptive impacts of the recent lockdown on our live music sector and night-time economy.
Another initiative I would like to mention is the Creative Recovery and Resilience program, which has been designed to focus on the employment and economic stimulus for the ACT creative sector. That is supported by an investment of over $700,000. Six new projects are currently being delivered in partnership with local organisations not only to build their capability and capacity but to provide opportunities to artists and art workers. We have seen extraordinary resilience and perseverance through the arts sector over the past two years, but it is critical that we provide these supports to ensure that the sector not only bounces back but continues to prove why Canberra can be positioned as Australia’s arts capital.
MR PETTERSSON: I have a supplementary question. Minister, can you please provide some more detail about the types of projects funded through HOMEFRONT.
MS CHEYNE: I thank Mr Pettersson for the question. HOMEFRONT was announced, as members will recall, in 2020 in response to the immediate and devastating impacts of COVID-19 on artists in Canberra. ACT artists were eligible to apply for up to $10,000 per application, with the express purpose of supporting their ongoing artistic practice during the pandemic. In this third round of HOMEFRONT, 54 applicants, representing a range of artistic disciplines will share in over $350,000 worth of funding. In total, the HOMEFRONT program has now supported 179 artists
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