A unique brand of classical music will return to stages across Australia this year following the announcement of a $560,000 Federal Government Grant by Federal Member for Fairfax, Ted O’Brien.
The Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra, managed from the Sunshine Coast, will use the massive funding boost to significantly expand their national tour in 2022 and build their education capacity.
Mr O’Brien said that the funding highlighted the Federal Government’s support for the arts and live music industry with nearly $1.5 million delivered for the sector in Fairfax over the last year alone.
“Musicians have been held back from doing what they love over the past two years just as audiences have been starved of the joys of live entertainment and performances,” Mr O‘Brien said.
“That’s why the Federal Government is backing the recovery of the arts and live music sector, with today’s announcement bringing the total funding support for the sector to over $1.5 million in the last year alone.”
“I am a huge supporter of the live music industry because it’s not just great for artists, it’s great for audiences and fantastic for local economies.”
General Manager and Co-Artistic Director of the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra, Nicole van Bruggen said that the funding was extremely important for the orchestra which engages over 100 freelance musicians annually.
“We are incredibly encouraged by this concrete endorsement of our work from the Federal Government through their Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Funding.” Ms Bruggen said.
“Freelance musicians and arts workers have been really struggling over the past two years, and this announcement is not only going to put food on their table, it also acknowledges that small and agile organisations such as the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra are in a key position to pull the music industry out of the reality of this pandemic.”
The unique form of classical, orchestral music performance is a highly specialised craft that presents music created in the 18th and 19th centuries, known as the Classical and Romantic Eras.
The Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra performs this music in an engaging, informed way that is not only true to the music’s origins but also uses instruments from that time.
The Funding will not only support the Orchestra to deliver a National Tour but will be used to build on the group’s education pathways through the Youth Orchestra.
“Because of our strong educational focus alongside our concert touring, our orchestra can make a huge difference in the lives of young artists all over Australia who need opportunities to make music, now more than ever.” Ms Bruggen said.
“In 2022, the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra will perform dozens of concerts across five states as well as in the virtual realm, present four youth orchestra programs, and provide music education programs which support the Australian curriculum to thousands of school students, both in person and online.”
This funding is a part of the Morrison Government’s $200 million Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund.
More than $179 million of the $200 million RISE Fund has now been allocated, creating 190,000+ job opportunities and expanding cultural and creative experiences for audiences across Australia.