Page 2078 - Week 07 - Thursday, 20 August 2020
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the homefront grants. I am pleased to advise that a further 59 homefront applicants have now also been funded, taking the total amount of direct additional support to our artists to over $950,000 this year. This is in addition to the usual annual arts activity grants proceeding as normal, which is another $860,000 directly to our artists in 2019-20.
This is just one part of the ACT government’s swift and comprehensive response in supporting our arts sector to assist artists and arts organisations to continue their valuable work in our community during this ongoing global pandemic.
MS CHEYNE: Minister, can you please advise the Assembly how the government’s innovative support for events during the coronavirus restrictions has both supported local artists and events producers and helped to contribute to community wellbeing?
MR RAMSAY: I thank Ms Cheyne for the supplementary question. An important part of the ACT government’s response has been to swiftly re-orient our events funding and calendar to support the innovative approaches which allow events to be run in COVID-safe ways. This allows performers and event producers to keep working and provides ways for Canberrans to continue to have great experiences and foster community in these difficult times.
Madam Speaker, you are aware that we have re-imagined Floriade from a centralised format to one of distributed plantings right across our city and our suburbs, at town centres, parks, shopping centres, community organisations, hospitals, public art sites, historic homes and national cultural institutions. We have also created the Rise Canberra program to support the arts and events industry throughout the pandemic and to encourage the sector to use new and innovative methods to continue delivering social and economic benefits from events. This has included establishing the Rise Canberra calendar as a central point of contact where event organisers can promote their activities.
Our Where You Are Festival provides different event experiences both offline and online by a wide range of local organisations, creators, event organisers, artists and businesses while restrictions on mass gatherings are in place. The festival is running now and it includes streamed performances, community art-making and TEDx Canberra.
Of course, we have also provided Canberra theatre’s CTC at home program, which has provided Canberrans with free access to performances from over 25 local professional artists. This swift, innovative response has allowed Canberra creatives to keep working, while also providing a sense of connectedness for our community.
MR PETTERSSON: Can the minister please update the Assembly on how the ACT government has been supporting Canberra arts organisations so that they can continue to keep staff employed and offer creative programs for the communities they serve?
MR RAMSAY: I thank Mr Pettersson for the supplementary question. Arts organisations are an important part of our arts ecology in the ACT. We have acted quickly to provide additional funding this year to support them, as many have
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