The Tasmanian Government is a strong supporter of our cultural and creative industries that support thousands of jobs across the State and add millions to our economy.
That’s why we have provided over $12 million in support to the sector during what has been a very challenging 12 months for artists and arts organisations.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we acted quickly in March 2020 by announcing our Cultural and Creative Industries stimulus package. We have continued to deliver significant support to the sector ever since, with a range of new and ongoing support, stimulus and recovery initiatives designed to help those in the industry recover and rebuild from the impacts of the pandemic.
Our suite of grant programs have been developed to support an incredibly diverse sector and to ensure that our artistic industries will continue to engage, challenge and inspire Tasmanian audiences, as well as national and international markets into the future.
Among the successful projects is Hobart based production company Story Engine, which received funding through Screen Tasmania’s latest round of Project Development funding for Hells Gates - an 8 x 1 hour drama series to be co-produced with Latitude Films. Story Engine was recently launched by Hobart animation studio, Blue Rocket, which is diversifying into producing content for adults to adapt to current market dynamics.
Additionally, Song of the Birds, a music film shot on the East Coast and produced by Van Diemen’s Band in partnership with Ignite Digi, Mac40Media, Spring Bay Mill and the TYO Chorale, was funded through the Arts and Screen Digital Production Fund.
Another artist to benefit is Duncan Meerding, who received funding through the New Work for New Markets program administered by Arts Tasmania.
Duncan is an award-winning designer and maker specialising in woodwork, and will use this support for the development of unique lighting, made from salvaged Tasmanian wood logs.
We will continue to provide sustainable support to the cultural and creative sector so it can further recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and continue to thrive into the future.