Arts Across Australia

 Dance is so joyous. Graeme Murphy - Choreographer

Queensland Theatre Company: Kelly Photo: Justine Walpole

AMPAG’s members try to ensure that no matter where you live in Australia you can experience the best talent and productions this country has to offer.

Performing arts organisations manage to tour regional Australia with support from government, corporations and individuals. Since 1992, the federal government, through its support program Playing Australia, has helped companies tour widely and perform in towns which otherwise would not be commercially viable. Some AMPAG companies tour specially made productions which can be staged outdoors, in large and small venues – even in a shed.

Despite the fiscal and logistical challenges associated with regional touring, in 2010, 80 regional centres held performances by AMPAG companies, reaching thousands of arts enthusiasts. In addition, the companies toured to a further 49 metropolitan centres, reaching audiences from a total of 129 non-capital towns and cities. 

Regional Australia hosts 150 opening nights in 2012

2012 will be a bumper year of regional touring with 15 AMPAG companies touring to regional towns and cities, and 150 opening nights celebrated in regional centres spanning the continent.

All of the performing arts disciplines will be represented in all states and territories across the country. For more detailed information please download our Regional Touring 2011 file or to check if there are live performances in your neighbourhood, check our Opening Nights Calendar.

You can support continued funding for Playing Australia by demonstrating there is a public demand for live performance across Australia.

For a full list of performing arts venues in Australia, visit Australian Performing Arts Centres Association (APACA) – and find out what’s happening near you.