Julie Bishop has announced the commencement of thirteen innovative projects profiling Australian expertise and fostering deeper people-to-people and institutional links with India. They will be supported through this year’s Australia-India Council (AIC) grants program.
The AIC’s grants, totalling over $565,000, will support new partnerships between Australian and Indian universities, professional bodies, private sector organisations and arts communities in areas of strong mutual interest and where the bilateral relationship has the greatest capacity to grow.
This year’s program will fund cutting-edge collaborative research in the mapping of salt?affected land and water resources; the sharing of Australia’s experience in implementing food standards, managing major sporting events and planning for sustainable urban transport links; and a new teacher education exchange program.
Other program highlights include the AIC’s support for Opera Australia’s Indian tour of Eddie Perfect’s “Shane Warne The Musical” and the installation in India of “Song for Country” – a multimedia exhibition celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture.
In recognition of the shared value Australia and India place on our respective cultural heritage, the AIC will also be helping to revitalise the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar (the father of India’s constitution) museum with Australian conservation expertise.
The AIC’s general grants program is conducted annually with applications open to Australian organisations and individuals. Proposals are sought in the arts and culture, science and technology, education, social initiatives (sport, public health, gender) and public policy fields.
Further information about the AIC is available at www.dfat.gov.au.