It’s a happy start to the new year for two Shoalhaven community events that have received a funding boost through the latest round of the Albanese Labor Government’s Festivals Australia program.
Being held for the second time in 2026, the three-day Milton Folk, Jazz and Blue Festival has received a $44,835 grant to run a pop-up Jazz Lab.
Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said, the Jazz Lab will transform a Milton street into a vibrant musical science lab, with Ulladulla High School (UHS) science students and Budawang school art students collaborating with locally-based set designer Andrea Espinoza to create theatrical, lab-inspired staging and a striking mural.
“To be held from May 1-3, this fabulous new festival weaves through Milton’s streets, parks, pubs and venues with more than 50 performances across more than 20 locations throughout the village,” she said.
“I attended the inaugural event last year and was impressed with the diverse range of entertainment and talent pulled together by Jacob Woods and his team. From buskers and street performers to dancing under Milton’s iconic Chinese Elm tree – the town was buzzing.”
Each night of the festival will open with the UHS Ensemble, followed by Sydney’s Symphonette on Friday and Manfredo Lament on Saturday evening.
Headlining the event is Uncomfortable Science, where renowned jazz musician Laneous (Lachlan Mitchell) will conduct five acclaimed players using whiteboard prompts, creating thrilling, fully improvised performances in an immersive community-driven setting.
The Tomerong School of Arts Centenary of Celebration has also received a $27,340 grant to run the Tomerong Hall Oral History and Art Project: If These Walls Could Talk.
Mrs Phillips said 'If these walls could talk' would celebrate Tomerong Hall’s 100 years through the creation of an interactive archive.
“Tomerong Hall is the heart of the village and this celebration, in October 2026, will affirm a century of local voices and stories through conversations and an immersive, multi-media installation,” Mrs Phillips said.
The community has been invited to share and record their stories, amplified by the artistic team, through video art, soundscape and hanging murals.
Local heroes will be invited to become hosts of memory stations using objects, memorabilia and photos to trigger conversations.
More than $700,000 in funding will be provided to 21 regional and remote festivals – including in Gilmore – through the Festivals Australia program.
“I’m really proud to deliver funding for these great events that provide a platform for local and visiting artists to share their work and engage with audiences in two of our beautiful villages,” Mrs Phillips said.
“I’m proud to support local creatives and to help promote two great events for locals and visitors to enjoy.”
The program provides $1.4 million each year to projects that give people in regional and remote Australia the opportunity to experience arts and culture in their local community.
This funding will support projects that engage audiences through performance, workshops, installations, or exhibitions delivered at a festival or a significant one-off community event.
Minister for the arts, Tony Burke, said the funding would help champion regional arts.
“Regional festivals are woven into the fabric of communities and are the talk of the town.
“Our support for festivals drives local economies through fostering cultural tourism and bringing more visitors into our regions.”
Photo: Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips pictured with Milton Folk, Jazz and Blue Festival organiser Jacob Woods at last year’s fundraising event featuring bands, Sue and Pete, The Condiments and Bones Atlas.
