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Federal Arts Minister Simon Crean has announced $540,000 from the Festivals Australia program for 37 new and diverse festivals projects that range from career development for young Indigenous hip hop performers, workshops for singers and songwriters, MP3 guides to community art spaces, and shopping trolley art works that raises awareness of homelessness.

They will feature in festivals from the Margaret River Wine Region Festival in WA to the Tara Festival of Culture and Camel Races in Queensland.

Minister Crean said local Festivals are opportunities for communities to come together to have fun, and also to share and participate in cultural and artistic experiences, stating âfestivals bring economic and social benefits to regions by attracting tourists and involving local businesses. Many of the projects receiving funding were developed through a community consultation and engagement process."

"I congratulate the organisations receiving funding for bringing high quality artistic experiences to a wide range of Australian audiences and encourage members of the community to embrace these excellent opportunities to participate in their local cultural life as both audience members and creators."

The following are among the 37 organisations receiving funding:

• The Torres Strait Islands Choral Project brings together community members from Thursday Island, Mabuiag, Darnel and Moa for musical skills development and rehearsals with a professional musician in preparation for performances in traditional Aboriginal languages at the 2011 Queensland Music Festival. Thursday Island, Queensland.
• Port Pirie Ability Festival - Workshops, Performance, Exhibitions will make the arts accessible to people with disabilities through participatory arts workshops, performances and exhibitions at the 2011 Southern Flinders Music Festival. Port Pirie, South Australia.
• The African Refugee Youth Theatre Project will use writing and dramatic art forms to examine issues identified by refugee African youth about settling into Australia at the 2011 Celebration of African Cultures festival. Auburn, New South Wales.

For more information on Festivals Australia go to www.arts.gov.au/arts/festivals_australia

Image: The Torres Strait Islands Choral Project

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