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$4.8 million upgrade for circus building
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Posted: 04/05/2009
AlburyCity and the City of Wodonga have welcomed news that the Federal Government has supported their joint application for funding for the Flying Fruit Fly Circus. The application has secured $3.754 million in Federal funding to enable the country's premier youth circus to rebuild its current premises, doubling the area for training and performances.
The upgrade of the 80-year-old building, owned by AlburyCity, is a $4.86 million project. In addition to the Federal funding, the project will receive $640,000 from AlburyCity, $350,000 from Arts NSW and $56,000 from Arts Victoria.
The Federal Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett, announced the funding today while visiting the Flying Fruit Fly Circus. The money has come from the Australian Government's $800 million Community Infrastructure Program.
AlburyCity Mayor Patricia Gould, who welcomed Mr Garrett to Albury, said Council was pleased the funding would enable the Circus to hold more public performances, corporate events and workshops, and increase the number of artists it could train.
"The Flying Fruit Fly Circus has worked tirelessly over many years to achieve this funding and we are very proud to have supported them," she said. "Their national training centre produces performers of international standing. Their presence in Albury reinforces our community's enthusiasm for cultural activities and the arts."
Wodonga Mayor Mark Byatt said the Flying Fruit Fly Circus was a one-of-a-kind training facility in Australia and it was terrific that it would become bigger and better.
"Wodonga Council is a great supporter of the arts and the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, and we are lucky to have the school located on our doorstep," he said. "The circus school teaches many young people from Wodonga and Albury, and fields enrolments from across Australia. The performances they put on are fantastic and their students make a valuable contribution to the Border community."
Flying Fruit Fly Circus General Manager Chris Pidd said the Circus building could now reflect the company's national reputation.
"We are known for our enormous contribution to Australia's circus and physical theatre world," he said. "Now, with modern facilities, we can expand our influence on the industry."
