Arts Queensland and the Australia Council will provide joint funding of $900,000 over three years (2009 - 2011) to create a stronger local arts industry by placing an established arts producer in three Queensland regions to develop partnerships between the community, local artists and national/international practitioners.

See media release 8 May 2009

Regional Stages is the first initiative from the Queensland government's touring strategy Coming to a Place Near You: Touring Strategy for performing arts in Queensland 2009-2014 which puts forward new knowledge and ideas about touring and addresses today's demographics and the high expectations of Queensland audiences and communities.

In July 2009, Northern Australian Regional Performing Arts Centres Association (NARPACA) venues will be invited to submit a proposal to Arts Queensland and the Australia Council to deliver regional stages to Queensland communities and performing arts practitioners for the period 1 January 2010 - 31 December 2012.

This project aims to create a supportive structure in regional Queensland venues that will produce selected Queensland professional and community based performing artists and groups, enabling them to create, present and tour their work more effectively to their own community, within Queensland and possibly nationally.

Regional Stages will enrich local arts practice by placing an established producer in selected regions to develop partnerships between the community, local artists and leading national and international practitioners in order to:

• create and present high quality contemporary performances;
• build new partnerships between artists and communities;
• contribute to niche touring circuits;
• develop creative work relevant to, or in partnership with local communities and
• strengthen artistic practice in regional areas of Queensland.

It is proposed that the regional producers would:

• Increase participation by regional Queenslanders in performing arts by engaging them in selecting projects and creating and presenting the works.
• Increase audiences for regional Queensland performing arts services, presenters and products.
• Increase partnerships and development initiatives for regional Queensland artists and communities.
• Increase the quality and reach of work created in regional Queensland.

Key Outcomes

• A demand-led performing arts culture and high satisfaction with product.
• Leading practice in creation of diverse, high quality, demand driven performing arts.
• A culture of partnerships and collaborations between local government, NARPACA, local industry, communities and established creative practitioners.

It is anticipated that successful proposals will be announced later this year, with the projects beginning work from 1 January 2010.

Regional Stages is made possible by the Federal government's Creative Communities Partnerships Initiative.

Regional Stages is linked to other Arts Queensland projects and initiatives:
MAPS
Touring Strategy
Creative Production Hubs