MELBOURNE.- Melbourne Art Foundation today announced it is a recipient of the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Arts Sustainability Fund, which is designed to assist systemically significant Australian arts organisations that face a risk to their sustainability due to the impact of COVID-19.

The Australian Government has recognised the Melbourne Art Foundation, alongside The National Institute of Dramatic Art, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Museum of Contemporary Art, as a leading arts organisation with good prospects of maintaining its viability.

Chair of Melbourne Art Foundation, Charles Justin says, “This funding enables us to continue our support of living artists and work collectively with the industry to rebuild and sustain our vibrant arts sector in Australia. The visual arts in Australia deliver critical social and economic benefits, and this funding allows us to fulfill our broader mission to create new audiences and markets for contemporary art in Australasia.”

Melbourne Art Foundation produces the biennial Melbourne Art Fair, Australasia’s progressive forum for contemporary arts and ideas. Set to take place in its new home at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, and its new summer time slot from 17-20 February, Melbourne Art Fair will return in 2022 to present iconic and new work by artists from the region’s most respected galleries.

Melbourne Art Foundation CEO and Fair Director, Maree Di Pasquale says, “Cultural events and festivals have faced a considerable threat to their viability during the pandemic; we feel privileged to now be in a strong position. With the continued support of government and Industry, we are committed to providing an ambitious, high quality platform that will provide real commercial and curatorial opportunities for our galleries and their artists”.

In February 2022 Melbourne Art Fair will kick off the Australasian art calendar as a celebration of contemporary art and its host city, Melbourne. The 16th fair edition will debut an ambitious commissions program for works of scale, an Indigenous art sector highlighting First Nations artists and Indigenous artistic practice, an international speaker program, and a robust VIP program in partnership with the state's leading galleries, institutions and collections.