Tas budget includes first dedicated Youth Arts Strategy

Image via Arts Tasmania

The upcoming 2017/18 Tasmanian Budget has put aside $1.44 million in new funding to set up a dedicated Youth Arts Strategy, Acting Minister for the Arts Will Hodgman said.

Its aim is to create more jobs for young Tasmanians in the creative and cultural sectors. It also intends to improve social health, wellbeing and employment opportunities through arts education and engagement.

The Tasmanian Government is a strong supporter of the cultural and creative industries.

More than 9,000 Tasmanians are directly employed in the sector or in cultural and creative occupations, with countless more people employed indirectly through the related tourism, hospitality and retail sectors.

The State Budget also includes an additional $500,000 per annum for the state’s arts festival Ten Days on the Island allowing it refocus primarily in regional areas, and additional Screen Production funds of $300,000 for the second season of Rosehaven.

The Tasmanian Hospitality Association (THA), which covers some live music venues, will receive $245,000 over the next three years to conduct marketing strategies, expand its social media presence, hold an industry conference and introduce initiatives to increase tourism.