A state government program has funded almost $600,000 in performing arts grants.

The funds released from the Touring Victoria program will help Victorian companies send music, dance and theatre to outer Melbourne across regional Victoria.

The fund recipients that will visit Bendigo are Orchestra Victoria and Ilbijerri Theatre Company.

Orchestra Victoria will return to Bendigo with its week long festival in July that will end with Beauty and Tragedy – a performance of Variations on a Theme of Joseph Haydn by Johannes Brahms and Tchaikovsky’s 6th Symphony.

Ilbijerri will tour its acclaimed production Coranderrk, which follows at 1881 state parliament inquiry between the men and women of the Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve and the Aboriginal Protection Board.

Touring Victoria provides support for Victorian arts organisations or artists to tour productions and performances.

It also aims to engage more Victorians in cultural and creative endeavours through greater access to a range of professional works and events.

“Victoria is Australia’s creative state,” Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley said. 

“These latest tours benefit communities throughout Victoria, while providing Victorian artists and companies with new audiences and experiences at some of the nation’s best regional and outer-metro venues.