A $525,000 grant will allow a North Queensland music festival to leverage its success and better develop the next wave of Australian musicians.
Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) Executive Director Ricardo Peach said the Townville-based event secured the funding from The Ian Potter Foundation for a four-year expansion of the group’s Pathways Program.
“This funding … is a phenomenal vote of confidence in regional Australia, with a nationally significant initiative now solidifying its presence in Townsville-Gurambilbarra,” Mr Peach said.
“We know that AFCM is one of the world’s leading celebrations of chamber music, and last year’s record-breaking figures proved the power of music in attracting patrons from around the country and across the globe.
“With The Ian Potter Foundation’s support, we will build an even stronger networking and capacity development component of this important Festival.”
Mr Peach said, as a result of the funding, Nick Duff has been appointed AFCM Pathways Program Manager and would work on creating professional development opportunities and career pathways for emerging Australian musicians and to improve regional access to high level music education.
The Ian Potter Foundation CEO Paul Conroy said the AFCM initiative aligned with the Foundation’s goals to foster artistic excellence, innovation, and regional engagement.
“We are delighted to support the AFCM as it leverages its 30+ years of experience to foster industry connections and provide a program to address the gaps in high-level specialist production training and business development skills needed by emerging musicians to fully develop their careers,” Mr Conroy said.
AFCM Pathways Director Lloyd Van’t Hoff said the program had been building over many years.
“With this funding, we can now move forward with greater reach and confidence, nurturing the next generation of world class musicians, taking our music further into the regions, building a team of experts and expanding our teaching online,” Mr Van’t Hoff said.
