Creative Australia funds a pilot program to co-invest in the commissioning, development and presentation of new Australian theatre works beyond the capital cities. The newly formed Second Cities Producing Consortium has received $280,000 through Creative Australia’s Creative Futures Fund to deliver the first year of a proposed four-year pilot program. The consortium aims to co-invest in the commissioning, development and presentation of new Australian theatre works, with audiences considered from the earliest stages of development. Canberra Theatre Centre Executive Director Georgia Hendy said the consortium recognised the growing importance of Australia’s regional cities as centres for creating and presenting major Australian stories. The first projects to be developed under the Second Cities Producing Consortium are expected to be announced over the coming year.