Audiences across Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific region will experience the best of Victorian creativity as nine local arts organisations take their work around the globe, with support through the International Engagement program.
Grants totalling $225,000 will enable talented Victorian creatives to present and perform their work to international audiences – from the Netherlands to Norway, Fiji to France.
From award-winning theatre and dance companies to leading musicians, the program is supporting a diverse range of creative organisations to reach new overseas audiences, collaborate and partner with international counterparts, and raise the profile of Victoria’s creative sector globally.
The recipients will collectively stage more than 100 performances in 14 locations to a combined estimated audience of over 50,000.
Local children’s theatre-makers will make a splash with Polyglot presenting Pram People, a new work for young people, in the UK and Hong Kong, while Bendigo’s Arena Theatre will take its acclaimed production Robot Song to high profile festivals in New Zealand and Canada.
Melbourne International Jazz Festival will present a Victorian Jazz Showcase at the Barbican Centre in London and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will perform in Indonesia and present a training camp and workshop through its partnership with the Yogyakarta Special Region.
Experimental arts collective APHIDS will take their highly acclaimed production The Director to France, Germany and The Netherlands; and Outer Urban Projects will market, distribute and present a part-film, part-live performance project in Fiji and Hawaii.
Leading Victorian dance companies will tour Europe and beyond, with Stephanie Lake Company presenting the dance and drumming spectacular Manifesto, Lucy Guerin Inc presenting in France, and Chunky Move travelling the mesmerising eight-person show 4/4.
Part of the Creative State 2025 strategy, the International Engagement program aims to promote international investment and trade and grow Victoria’s $38.4 billion creative economy.
International Engagement recipients
Aphids, Collingwood - $25,000
To support the presentation of Aphids’ production The Director in France, The Netherlands and Germany.
Arena Theatre, Bendigo - $25,000
To support the presentation of Arena Theatre’s production Robot Song at festivals and venues in New Zealand and Canada.
Chunky Move, Southbank - $25,000
To support the presentation of Chunky Move’s 4/4 in Norway, The Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal.
Lucy Guerin Inc, North Melbourne - $25,000
To support the presentation of two works at France's national centre for dance, Théâtre National de Chaillot in Paris, alongside international market development activities.
Melbourne International Jazz Festival, North Melbourne - $25,000
To support Melbourne International Jazz Festival’s Victorian Jazz Showcase, which will see two Victorian jazz ensembles perform at the 2024 London Jazz Festival and participate in an industry event.
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Southbank - $25,000
To support the delivery of a range of engagement initiatives in Indonesia, including performances, a training camp and workshops, in partnership with the Yogyakarta Special Region to strengthen connections between Victoria and Indonesia.
Outer Urban Projects, Coburg - $25,000
To support Outer Urban Projects to market, distribute and present a part-film, part-live performance project in Fiji and Hawaii.
Polyglot, Abbottsford - $25,000
To support the presentation of Polyglot’s new work for young children, Pram People, in Hong Kong in March and in the UK in August.
Stephanie Lake Company, Fitzroy North - $25,000
To support the presentation of the dance and drumming spectacular Manifesto in New Zealand, Spain and France.