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New Australian stories explode with bliss factor
By Sue Devic
Fifteen remarkable stories that capture the Australian spirit will be told through New Australian Stories, an initiative of the Australia Council for the Arts
A story about the Sydney Children's Choir, a play set outside a pub in Broome and the collapse of Melbourne 's West Gate Bridge make for an eclectic mix of stories told through the New Australian Stories Initiative.
Announced by the Australian Government in late 2004 with an allocation of $2 million, the New Australian Stories initiative supports the creation and presentation of new artistic works that reflect distinctly Australian stories. The Australia Council has developed and managed this initiative in line with the Government's vision for the development and sustainability of Australia 's arts sector.
The 15 stories—and the artists involved in creating and telling them—were announced at Parliament House in June by Senator Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.
‘The Australian Stories initiative is about new works, by Australians, telling Australian stories,' Senator Coonan said.
‘These are stories for us, but they also have universal appeal and have the potential to reach a global marketplace.'
Some of the exciting New Australian Stories are:
- Bliss , a new opera by Opera Australia based on Peter Carey's award-winning novel
- Burning Daylight by Stalker Theatre Company, the story of one night in a transit zone outside a notorious pub in Broome
- Explode by Lucy Guerin Inc, exploring the physical, structural and emotional implications of the collapse of Melbourne 's West Gate Bridge in 1970
- Pivotal Country by De Quincey Co, this innovative performance will use sound, speech, image and movement to reflect life in the harsh and beautiful Central Australian Desert
It's all about us …
The 15 projects supported by the New Australian Stories initiative will create works that reflect the essence of what it is to be Australian.
‘These New Australian Stories are from all areas of the arts and tell just some of the many fascinating stories that come from our vast country,' David Gonski AO, the Australia Council chairman said.
Funding proposals were invited and considered by the boards and divisions of the Australia Council to ensure effective, long-term, artform-specific outcomes. A selection committee of Council members, senior staff and arts sector members then determined whether the proposal would receive seed or total project funding.
This one-off initiative complements the Australia Council's ongoing programs which support the creation of new artistic works and the presentation of existing works in new and dynamic forms, by Australian artists and arts organisations.
‘The projects funded by this initiative will play a vital role in keeping our stories—and the spirit of storytelling—alive for future generations of Australians,' Mr Gonski said.
For more information about the 15 projects supported by the New Australian Stories Initiative visit the Australia Council website at www.ozco.gov.au