Creative grants

A local theatre company and photographer are amongst hundreds of Victorian creatives to receive a $5000 lifeline from the Victorian Government.

Drouin-based Off the Leash Theatre will use the grant to support the development and adapt workshops for online whilst Warragul photographer Lauren Murphy will undertake skills development and adopt workshops for online.

Member for Eastern Victoria and Parliamentary Secretary for Creative Industries Harriet Shing said the two were amongst four artists and creative businesses in West Gippsland and Latrobe Valley to receive $5000 grants. The two other recipients are textile artist Dijanne Cevaal and photographer Pollyanna Gibson.

“The Victorian Government is determined to help the sector survive, adapt and connect with audiences during this pandemic and beyond,” said Ms Shing. “I’m pleased to announce these grants which will keep local creatives working through this tough period of restrictions, allowing them to future-proof their practice and weather the storm.”

She said the Sustaining Creative Workers program provided targeted quick response assistance to Victorian creatives who have been hard-hit by the crisis.

This second tranche of the program delivers grants totalling $2.3 million to 373 independent creatives and creative micro-businesses and organisations right across Victoria – including artists, writers, musicians, filmmakers, festivals, galleries, design studios, fashion labels and more.

Ms Shing said the grants would enable them to develop, deliver and adapt their work in a changed environment, including supporting equipment upgrades, research and development, digital initiatives and professional and business capacity building.

Prior to the pandemic, the creative industries employed 280,000 Victorians and contributed $31 billion annually to the state economy. In recent months, the sector has been devastated due to coronavirus related restrictions and closures, with thousands of people losing work and income.