Arena Theatre Company

24/06/2026

Arena is extremely excited to be amongst an excellent cohort of recipients in this round of the Regional Arts Fund. Created in partnership between Arena and Dumawul, Dja Dja Wurrung cultural enterprise, Country & Belonging: On Country is an immersive exhibition showcasing student artwork, photography and personal Acknowledgements of Country developed through three years of First Nations-led residencies in Greater Bendigo primary schools. Premiering at Arena’s Creativerse 2026 festival at Ulumbarra Theatre on 3 October 2026, the exhibition combines large-scale visual installation, children’s voices, documentary footage and augmented reality, and has been designed to tour regional venues, schools, libraries and festivals across Victoria.

Regional Arts Australia is proud to announce the recipients of Round 1, 2026 Regional Arts Fund Project Grants, with more than $1.08 million invested across 47 projects in regional, rural and remote communities nationwide.

The round reflects strong and growing demand for the program, with 217 applications received, a 17% increase on the same round last year. Of the 47 funded projects, 28% came from first-time successful applicants, drawn from a pool where 43% of all applicants were new to the program.

Australian Government Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, congratulated the recipients and acknowledged the vital role they play in shaping regional Australia’s arts landscape.

“There’s a place for every story and a story for every place and our regional artists are critical in ensuring Australian stories are told across the country. Boosting the cultural infrastructure of those communities means regional arts will go from strength to strength. This funding shines a light on projects across the country, helping regional artists reach new audiences within their communities and beyond.”

The Regional Arts Fund is an Australian Government program that supports sustainable cultural development in regional and remote communities in Australia. The program is managed by Regional Arts Australia and organisations in each state and territory.

Read more in the link in our comments.

| ArtsACT | Regional Arts NSW | Darwin Community Arts | Flying Arts | Country Arts SA | RANT arts | Regional Arts Victoria | Regional Arts WA

09/06/2026

A heartfelt thank you to our many friends who gave during our Plus1 fundraising campaign.

Your gift was matched, so your generosity went twice as far which doubled its impact to help us pass our goal, exceeding $100,000!

From all of the children who get to take part in our joyous creative programs: thank you. 🙏

31/05/2026

Our Plus1 fundraising campaign closes tonight at midnight, and up until then every dollar is still being matched. If you've been meaning to give, now is the time.

Help us back the next generation of young Australian theatre makers.

Donate now - https://wearearena.org.au/support-arena/

31/05/2026

Arena's Creative Lab is a space where young people get to make, experiment and collaborate alongside professional artists, with no right answer and no fixed outcome.
For kids in regional Victoria, that kind of access isn't a given. Arena makes it possible.

We need your help to keep programs like this going and SUNDAY MAY 31ST IS THE FINAL DAY that all donations are matched by Creative Australia

Head to the website to donate now - https://wearearena.org.au/support-arena/

30/05/2026

The Creativerse brings together top Australian artists, performers and creatives to transform spaces into interactive wonderlands of surprise and discovery, with hands-on installations, live performances, workshops, and free events for kids aged 3 to 12.

After a successful 2025 The Creativerse returns on Oct 3 2026 - but we need your help to make it bigger and better than ever and right now, every dollar you donate is matched until tomorrow (May 31st)

Donate now via the website - https://wearearena.org.au/support-arena/

29/05/2026

Last chance to double your impact and help the next generation of young Australian theatre makers. Arena's 60th birthday giving campaign officially closes tomorrow.

If you've ever seen an Arena show, or you believe theatre has a real role in the lives of young people, this is your moment.

Sixty years is worth celebrating. The next sixty are worth funding.

Matched donations end tomorrow (Sunday 31st) donate now - https://wearearena.org.au/support-arena/

29/05/2026

Our 60th Birthday fundraising campaign finishes this Sunday - May 31st.

If you believe in the future of creativity for young people there's still time to donate and every donation received before May 31 will be doubled thanks to .australia so there's never been a better time to get behind our young creatives.

Head to https://wearearena.org.au/support-arena/ or the link in our bio to donate today.

28/05/2026

The clock is ticking! ⏰

Only 3 days until Arena's 60th Birthday Giving Campaign closes, and every dollar you give stops being doubled.

Help us keep nurturing the creative lives of young people. If you've been meaning to give this is your sign to donate today.

Head to our website or the link in bio now 👉

28/05/2026

Arena's Country & Belonging residency, led by First Nations artists, helps primary school students explore what it actually means to belong to a place. It leaves something behind too: 100% of teachers who've completed the program now use their students' own Acknowledgements in regular classroom practice.

Your donation, matched dollar for dollar until May 31st, keeps this work happening in regional Victorian schools.

To support this important work visit the website or link in bio to donate today.

28/05/2026

Arena has been making theatre with and for young people since 1966. The faces may have changed. The work may have changed. But, the belief that young people deserve serious, ambitious, honest theatre remains.

Help us keep it going.

There's still time to donate to our Plus1 Fundraising Campaign - where every dollar donated until May 31 is doubled thanks to Creative Australia

Head to our website to donate today - https://wearearena.org.au/