The Small Regional Presenters program will support 15 groups that will enliven community halls, mechanics institutes, theatres and more across regional Victoria.
This year’s program is bolstering support for community groups and not-for-profit organisations to bring creative performances to their local communities, delivered by Regional Arts Victoria.
Tallarook residents of all ages will enjoy the comedy show Letters from my Heroes presented by Tallarook Arts Inc as well as a mentorship workshop for young people in the region while music lovers in Warragul will enjoy a season of 10 acoustic performances at the community-owned arts space Wesley of Warragul.
The latest investment will bring a program of musical, comedy, science and children’s theatre performances to Tintaldra while King Valley Arts will present a season of theatre and music productions to communities in Whitfield, Cheshunt, Myrrhee, Edi Upper and Moyhu.
Fans of comedy, music and history are in for a treat when Piano Palooza is presented at venues in Yea, South Gippsland, Fish Creek, Murtoa and St Arnaud, while all-women’s circus show Casting Off will be staged in Strzlecki, Mirboo and Bruthen.
As well as providing work opportunities for artists and venue staff in regional Victoria, many Small Regional Presenters events are powered by volunteers involved in local hall committees, community progress associations and more.
2024 recipients
BRUTHEN ARTS AND EVENTS COUNCIL INC, Bruthen, $6,270
Bruthen Arts and Events Council will bring the circus comedy Casting Off and the children’s theatre performance You're a Musical Instrument to their community.
FISH CREEK MEMORIAL HALL INC Fish Creek, $4,000
Fish Creek Memorial Hall will host a performance of the music, comedy and story-telling show, Piano Palooza for the local community.
KING VALLEY ARTS INC, King Valley, $10,781
King Valley Arts will bring theatre and musical productions to the region, with performances in Whitfield, Cheshunt, Myrrhee, Edi Upper and Moyhu.
MURTOA MECHANICS HALL, Murtoa, $5,000
The Murtoa Mechanics Hall Committee will bring the music, comedy and story-telling show Piano Palooza and the comedy theatre performance Letters from My Heroes to their community.
MUSIC AT THE BASILICA INC, Geelong, $5,500
Music at the Basilica will present two concerts by the Australian Chamber Choir in St Mary’s Basilica, Geelong.
SOUTH GIPPSLAND SHIRE COUNCIL, South Gippsland, $8,050
South Gippsland Shire Council will bring the music, comedy and story-telling show Piano Palooza and the all-women circus show Casting Off to the community halls of Strzelecki and Mirboo.
ST ARNAUD ARTS COUNCIL INC, St Arnaud, $4,070
St Arnaud Arts Council will host music, comedy and story-telling show Piano Palooza in the local town hall featuring a grand piano purchased by the community.
STRATFORD COURTHOUSE INC, Stratford, $15,000
Stratford Courthouse Theatre will present Full House - 2024: The Year of More, a dynamic showcase of feminine voices, offering a diverse range of live music, comedy, circus feats and theatre.
TALLAROOK ARTS INC, Tallarook, $3,850
Tallarook Arts will present the comedy show Letters from my Heroes along with the Where do we find our mentors? workshop for young people in the region at the Tallarook Mechanics Institute.
TARWIN LOWER MECHANICS INSTITUTE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT INC, Tarwin Lower, $3,000
The Small Halls of Venus Bay and Tarwin Lower will each host a night of folk/acoustic music performance for their local communities.
THE SOUND DOCTOR PRESENTS INC, Anglesea, $15,000
The 2024 Sound Doctor annual program will bring live contemporary music to Anglesea's Art Deco Hall over four weekends in 2024.
UPPER MURRAY PERFORMING ARTS INC, Tintaldra, $14,400
Upper Murray Performing Arts will bring a program of four musical, comedy, science and children’s theatre performances to the local community throughout 2024.
WARRAGUL HERITAGE PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION INC, Warragul, $8,947
Warragul Heritage Preservation Association will present a season of 10 professional acoustic music performances in the community owned operated arts space, Wesley of Warragul.
WINTERWORDS AUTONOMOUS COLLECTIVE, Beechworth, $2,970
The 2024 Winterwords Festival will present Stephen Hall's comedy show Letters from My Heroes along with a workshop taking participants through various storytelling strategies and writing techniques.
YEA ARTS INC, Yea, $7,146
Yea Arts Showtime 2024 will present the music, comedy and story-telling show Piano Palooza, the Garage Girls theatre performance and Someone in the Dark, an immersive puppetry experience for children along with puppetry workshops for young people.