Cultural ties between Melbourne and Scotland are growing even stronger with the Malthouse Theatre’s new show Optimism to feature at the Edinburgh International Festival in August.
Arts Minister Lynne Kosky joined visiting Edinburgh International Festival Director, Jonathan Mills, to celebrate the Brumby Government’s three-year Melbourne-Edinburgh Cultural Exchange Initiative.
“Scotland and its people feature strongly in Victoria's history and our Sister State relationship has recently been strengthened through Melbourne and Edinburgh’s designations as UNESCO Cities of Literature,” Ms Kosky said.
“The staging of Optimism will also coincide with exhibitions by Victorian artists Greg Creek and Gabrielle de Vietri in the festival’s visual arts program which has been curated by another Victorian, ACCA’s artistic director Juliana Engberg.
“We are now in the second year of the three-year exchange. Last year Chunky Move presented Mortal Engine to great acclaim in Edinburgh and I am sure the presentation of Optimism will be yet another Victorian success story. For Malthouse it will also follow the triumphant Broadway season of Exit the King, which has received four Tony Award nominations in New York.”
Ms Kosky also announced the latest round of Brumby Government grants to support arts export, touring and cultural exchange projects.
Grants totalling $210,000 will support a wide range of international projects, providing critical opportunities for Victorian artists and companies. Recipients include Lucy Guerin, Balletlab, Polyglot Puppet Theatre, Ranters Theatre, Helen Herbertson and Moira Finucane.
“International export and touring activity provides an important income stream for Victorian artists and arts companies, expands their audience base and generates opportunities for future engagements and collaborations,” Ms Kosky said.
“The flow-on effects of this kind of activity also extend beyond the Victorian arts sector, providing a valuable complement to the state’s trade, investment, tourism, diplomatic and other bilateral links.
“Victorian artists have made significant inroads internationally and have developed a reputation for innovative and excellence. Recent international successes from companies like Malthouse Theatre, Chunky Move, Back to Back Theatre and Lucy Guerin Inc, to name just a few, are testament to the quality of Victorian product and the value of these kinds of opportunities.
“This latest round of projects as well as initiatives such as the Melbourne-Edinburgh Cultural Exchange will help maintain the momentum.”
Optimism is on at the Malthouse until June 13. It is a Malthouse Theatre, Edinburgh International Festival, Sydney Festival and Sydney Theatre Company Commission.
Click here for a full list of International Program funding recipients.
Contact: Arts Victoria
Phone: 03 8683 3100