Australia announces $ 2,50,000 for 'Festival of India'

New Delhi, July 27 (ANI): Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's coalition government has announced $ 2,50,000 to support the 'Confluence: Festival of India in Australia' this year. The Australian High Commission in New Delhi had in an official release said the festival will be held from August to November and will bring an exciting and diverse program of the finest classical and contemporary performing and visual arts from India to the audiences across six Australian cities. The festival will also include a number of community activities and collaborations with local artists. This cultural celebration will extend and deepen the longstanding relationship between both nations by giving the Australian audiences an opportunity to experience a program, including exhibitions, theatre, dance and music. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in 2014 announced the 'Festival of India in Australia'. The festival follows the Australian Government's 'Oz Fest', a major cultural festival in India that ran from October 2012 to February 2013, the statement added. The Australian Government has committed $200,000 to the festival through the Department of Communications and the Arts and a further $50,000 from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Australia India Council.(ANI)