Arts Across Australia

Dance is so joyous. Graeme Murphy

West Australian Symphony OrchestraAMPAG aims to ensure that wherever you live in Australia you are able to experience the best talent and productions this country has to offer.

Without government support, there are few, if any, opportunities to experience live performance outside major urban centres. Playing Australia, an initiative of the Federal government, has assisted companies since 1992 to tour widely and perform in towns which are not commercially viable. Some AMPAG companies tour specially made productions which can be staged outdoors, in large and small venues, even in a shed.

Despite the fiscal and logistical challenges associated with regional touring, in 2008 119 regional centres held performances by 26 MPA companies, reaching thousands of arts enthusiasts.

2010 Regional Touring

The Queensland Ballet is touring throughout regional Queensland in the second half of 2010 with its lavish production of Swan Lake. The ballet received a rapturous reception during its premiere season in Brisbane in 2008 and will be reaching Maryborough, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast.

Opera Australia is also touring extensively with their production of Verdi’s La Traviata taking it to Dandeong, Launceston, Hobart, Ballarat, Bendigo, Moonee Ponds, Nunawading, Frankston, Sale, Ringwood, Albury, Cowra, Griffith, Orange, Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Port Macquarie, Newcastle, Parramatta, Wollongong, Wagga Wagga, Morundah, Mooroopna and Canberra.

And in the second half of 2010 the following companies are also touring extensively throughout regional Australia:

Bell Shakespeare – Twelfth Night
Sydney Dance – we unfold
The Australian Ballet - Don Quixote
Opera Queensland – The Merry Widow
Circus Oz
Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Australian Chamber Orchestra
Bangarra Dance Theatre – Mathinna
Musica Viva – various musical troupes

To see if there are live performances in your neighbourhood tonight – check out our Opening Nights Calendar.

Continued funding for Playing Australia needs your support to demonstrate there is a public demand for live performance across Australia.

You can show your support for access to arts across Australia by playing your part in the campaign to boost awareness of the value and achievement of Australia’s performing arts.

For a full list of performing arts venues in Australia, visit the website of Australian Performing Arts Centres Association, APACA – and find out what’s happening near you.