$200,000 arts support for regional SA

Over $200,000 in new support from the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund is flowing to nine regional and remote South Australian projects, highlighting collaboration, connection and creativity.

The Project Grants round brings together diverse artforms and intergenerational practice, with a strong emphasis on culturally grounded work and opportunities for young people.

Innovative, multi-artform initiatives feature prominently, including creation of a musical about the algae bloom by a youth arts company on the Fleurieu Peninsula and an on-Country creative development of a Ngarrindjeri song cycle theatre work grounded in matrilineal knowledge and cultural responsibilities.

Key Points

Federal Government Minister for the Arts, the Hon Tony Burke MP, framed the funding as a commitment to ensuring that regional voices are heard and shared widely. He described the investments as both cultural and practical support for artists and audiences in regional settings, reinforcing the program’s national reach.

“There’s a place for every story and a story for every place and our regional artists are critical in ensuring Australian stories are told across the country,” he said.

“Boosting the cultural infrastructure of those communities means regional arts will go from strength to strength.

“This funding shines a light on projects across the country, helping regional artists reach new audiences within their communities and beyond.”

Community collaboration

Collaboration between regional and Adelaide-based musicians and artists is a feature of several initiatives, notably the Burra Orchestra Project and the ‘Kaurna Yarta – The Seasons’ Regional Tour. These projects underscore the program’s focus on connection—linking creators and audiences across geography to deliver distinctive events for regional communities. Together, they underline how partnerships can diversify programming, share expertise, and strengthen regional cultural life.

Support for the next generation of artists is another clear thread in this round. Bottlebrush Studio 2026-27, Portal Festival and the Kungka Tjuta Music Project were recognised as offering strong pathways for young people to develop skills, confidence and experience.

In parallel, the creative development of a Ngarrindjeri song cycle theatre work—grounded in matrilineal knowledge and cultural responsibilities—demonstrates how on-Country processes and cultural frameworks can lead artistic direction and community engagement.

Kaurna Yarta’s seasonal knowledge

“The projects funded in this round highlight the depth of talent across regional South Australia, with artists responding to their communities, their environments, and their culture in powerful and creative ways, Country Arts SA chief executive Anthony Peluso said.

“It’s especially encouraging to see young people front and centre in shaping the future of the arts in their regions.”

Together, these projects reflect the round’s emphasis on place-based creativity. From a youth-led musical about an algae bloom on the Fleurieu Peninsula to touring work anchored in Kaurna Yarta’s seasonal knowledge, the slate points to the role of arts practice in local storytelling, cultural connection and community dialogue. The cross-regional collaborations also suggest a pragmatic approach to resource-sharing and audience-building within South Australia’s arts ecology.