The Federal Coalition Government continues to provide critical support to community museums, galleries and historical societies across regional and remote Australia under the second batch of $3 million Culture, Heritage and Arts Regional Tourism (CHART) program.
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said more than $232,000 in grants would flow to 81 projects under Batch 2 to support activities that will encourage visitation to regional, rural and remote parts of Australia as they continue to recover from the devastating impacts of COVID-19.
“We know that tourism is vital for driving economic growth in regional Australia,” Minister Fletcher said. “The Federal Coalition Government is pleased to continue stimulating this growth under CHART with the promotion of our community arts sector – something that is invaluable to our regions and wider arts sector.”
The first batch of grants are supporting a variety of projects across the country, contributing to the reactivation and recovery through a total of 131 projects under the program to date, valued at over $368,000.
$2,697 of funding from the CHART program will assist the Emu Park Historical Museum Society to construct storage units for media archival materials, the purchase of folders to hold archival items from the media collection, installation of air-conditioning unit for the media collection storage room and the purchase of television for interactive display purposes throughout the Museum.
Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said the funding flowing from the CHART program is timely as community-run arts and cultural organisations look to return to normal operations following some two years of disruptions caused by the pandemic.
“Both our local economy and community have been affected by the ongoing effects of restrictions and isolation. However, thanks to the Australian Government, we are able to support the development of appealing cultural tourism experiences that will reignite the economy and participation in the Arts,” Ms Landry said.
“I encourage arts, cultural and heritage organisations in Capricornia to apply for a CHART program grant today – this will assist us to continue offering appealing cultural tourism experiences in our communities.”
The CHART program is being administered by the Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA) on behalf of the Government. Applications are open until 29 April 2022, or until funding is allocated, whichever comes first.
