Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival scores $180,000 through Federal arts fund

Arts Margaret River’s upcoming Readers and Writers Festival has scored a huge win thanks to the Federal Government. This week the groups secured $180,000 in funding to help the arts body continue its work in the community. Manager Michelle Wright said the team was “overjoyed and incredibly grateful”. “Arts Margaret River exists to support and nurture the work of artists across all disciplines, and to foster a love of the arts within our community,” she said. “As a small community arts organisation we, like many others in the arts have been hit hard by the ongoing uncertainty around COVID-19 and the continued lack of operational funding for not-for-profit arts organisations like ourselves.” Ms Wright said the funding lifeline would keep the doors open for the next two years. “(It will) ensure we can keep making the arts accessible for our community and ensure we can keep creating, presenting and supporting the arts in our South West region,” she told the Times. In releasing the money, Federal Arts Minister Paul Fletcher said the Government recognised the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand would help groups struggling through the pandemic. “The purpose of RISE is to back the arts and entertainment sector to recover from the devastating impact of COVID-19 shutdowns,” he said. “We want to see venue doors thrown open to audiences; we want to see the curtains going up; and we want to see performers coming on stage to a welcoming roar of applause. “This unprecedented injection of arts stimulus funding is producing an extraordinary cultural and creative dividend, with a two-year pipeline of supported events rolling out across Australia.” Literary lovers are gearing up for this year’s festival which kicks off from May 13 to 15.