May 31st, 2025Grants to boost creative events in regions

The Castlemaine Community House is getting $15,000 under the state’s Small Regional Presenters program to stage the children’s theatre performance Play Date during Castlemaine Pride this November.

Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks last week announced the latest round of recipients of the Small Regional Presenters program which provides grants to community groups and not-for-profit organisations to assist with the costs of programming and presenting creative shows in their area.

Grants will support presenters to bring live shows, a series of events or an annual program to their communities. The program also works to build local skills by assisting presenters to bring industry professionals to their areas for mentorships and workshops.

Since its launch in 2016, the Small Regional Presenters program has supported more than 100 performances in regional communities across Victoria.

The 14 recipients of the 2025 round of the program include LINK Neighbourhood House Kaniva and Birchip Resource and Learning Centre, who will present children’s performances Dinosaur Time Machine and Garage Girls in towns across Western Victoria.

Red Rock Regional Theatre and Gallery in Cororooke, western Victoria will host four performances of theatre, music, storytelling and laughter across their 2025 season.

Indigo Shire Council will present a series of creative programs in collaboration with local primary schools including educational performances, ahands-on design workshop and theatre workshop for budding creatives.

The Small Regional Presenters program is a Labor Government program delivered by Regional Arts Victoria – the state’s peak body for creatives and creative organisations in the regions.

For more information, or to see the full list of 2025 recipients, visit creative.vic.gov.au.