Inaugural Maitri Cultural Partnerships grants

Today I announce the six recipients of the inaugural Maitri Cultural Partnerships grants.

The Cultural Partnerships are one of a suite of Maitri (meaning friendship) initiatives administered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations.

The Centre is working across government, industry, academia and the community to build greater understanding within the Australia-India relationship and support business to seize the opportunities of our economic partnership.

Each of these projects will support new and exciting collaboration with India and enhance the connections between our creative sectors and India's thriving cultural industries.

• Mona Foma, the Tasmanian festival of music and arts, will lead a two-year Australia-India music collaboration with artistic exchanges and music residencies, culminating in a major concert in 2025.
• Bábbarra Women's Centre in Maningrida Northern Territory will work with Tharangini Studios in Bengaluru to engage emerging women artists in textiles development.
• Raghav Handa will lead a joint effort between FORM Dance Projects and Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts to be performed at the 2024 India Biennale in Bengaluru.
• Western Australia's Undercurrent Theatre Company will collaborate with the Kerala-based Void Ensemble on a new production to be performed in Perth and Trivandrum.
• Benjamin Knapton, a leading Australian circus and physical theatre director, will work with performers of traditional Indian physical theatre on a production which will premiere at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai.
• Melbourne's Liquid Architecture and Sarai-CSDS in New Delhi will co-host a symposium, workshop, and exhibition on creative practices that utilise new technologies in sound and media.

Further details on the successful grant projects can be found at australiaindiacentre.org.au.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“The Albanese Government is strengthening creative collaboration between Australia and India to further our cultural understanding and enhance our economic ties.

“The Maitri Cultural Partnerships will deepen our creative sector engagement from major cultural institutions to smaller, community partnerships.”

Quotes attributable to Tim Thomas, CEO, Centre for Australia-India Relations:

“The Maitri Cultural Partnerships grants are a key element of the Centre for Australia-India Relations' work to deepen understanding and connections between Australia and India. Strong cultural ties will increasingly be a feature of our strong relations.

“The Centre is pleased to support these projects to bring fresh and innovative perspectives to the Australia-India relationship and to foster creativity in our own multicultural ecosystem.”