Australia's top arts bodies get significant gov't grant to tour China, India
Xinhua, February 9, 2015 Adjust font size:
The Australian Ballet will receive a federal government grant of 117,000 U.S. dollars to support a tour of Beijing and Shanghai in China later this year, a senior official said on Monday.
The grant is part of a total funding package of 365,000 U.S. dollars to Australia's top arts bodies, including the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Australian World Orchestra and the National Film and Sound Archive, who will play to audiences around China and India in 2015.
Australia's Arts Minister George Brandis announced the allocations in a statement on Monday.
The Australian Ballet has not toured China since 2006, and though no shows have yet been scheduled, details of the tour will be released in March.
The West Australian Symphony Orchestra has been given 39,000 U. S. dollars to develop a "symphony cultural bridge" between itself and the China Philharmonic Orchestra.
The company is not expecting to tour, rather using the opportunity as a "cultural exchange" of ideas and music between the two nations.
Under the guidance of Indian maestro Zubin Mehta, the Australian World Orchestra has received funding of 194,000 U.S. dollars which will see it travel to the Indian cities of Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai in October.
Aside from performing concerts in each city, the orchestra, backed by leading Australian and Indian cricket players, will also provide shows and youth education programs for underprivileged children.
"These projects will help to build on the international profile of Australia as a nation of excellence in the arts that punches well above its weight," said Brandis. Endi