MERRIGONG THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $40,000 IN FUNDING FOR ARTISTS

Merrigong Theatre Company has  announced a major reboot of its MERRIGONG Artists’ Program for 2020, with an injection of more than $40,000 into new projects from independent artists. This reboot comes in response to the COVID-19 crisis and its effect on employment opportunities for performing artists, and is in addition to a range of existing independent artist support that was originally announced for MERRIGONG in 2020. 

Merrigong’s Artistic Director / CEO Simon Hinton said “Our industry has been very badly affected by the closure of our venues, and while we are very grateful that the Federal Government’s JobKeeper program has allowed Merrigong to keep all of our permanent staff (albeit reduced to 80% of their normal hours) and many of our casual operational staff employed, most artists in our industry do not qualify for this assistance due to the project nature of their employment.” 

“That has made it a priority for us as a company to rethink our current programs to ensure that artists are still working to make exciting new theatre, and connecting with community and audiences in our region and beyond,” he said. 

The reboot allows for a repurposing of funds, to be allocated across three areas: New commissioned theatre works,  Callout for new independent artists’ projects and MERRIGONG Digital Tasters 

Merrigong remains committed to those artists whose projects have been cancelled due to COVID-19, with the effected works to be included in the MERRIGONG 2021 program. These include Artisan Collective’s The Keeper – Development Showing, Lily Hayman’s Fledgling, Ten Tonne Sparrow’s Mount Hopeless, and Catherine McKinnon’s Storyland – Development Showing. 

Creative developments that were announced as part of the original MERRIGONG 2020 program have been rescheduled for later in 2020, and will take place behind closed doors with only necessary artists in attendance and appropriate safety measures in place.

These include Yen Yang’s A Practical Guide to Self-Defence, Malika Reese’s Six Women, and Neisha Murphy’s ChaChi. Guiding the delivery of the MERRIGONGX 2020 reboot is Merrigong’s Artistic Development Manager, Leland Kean, who said: “This is a fantastic initiative for local artists. Whilst continuing to support artists already programmed in the MERRIGONG 2020 season, it opens the door for new artists affected by the current crisis. It not only provides them with the opportunity to connect with the community and audiences, but also, most importantly, gives them the chance to continue to develop their practice during this time. I look forward to seeing the fantastic, innovative works that come out of this initiative, continuing what has become the trademark of the MERRIGONG program over the last three years.”