The latest round of grants from the Australia Council for the Arts has been announced, with new songs by Brenda Gifford, a performance inspired by the life of experimental pianist Margaret Leng Tan, and six new Australian operas among the projects funded.

Chamber Made Opera’s Dragon Ladies Don’t Weep. Image © Tamara Saulwick

A total pool of $6.2 million will support 201 project and development grants for individuals, groups and small to medium arts organisations. Among the recipients are Sydney Chamber Opera, which receives $50,055 for the presentation of six new Australian operas at Carriageworks in 2020, the Four Winds Festival, receiving $21,612 to commission two songs for young people by composer Brenda Gifford, Bundanon Trust, receiving $54,412 for Sonic Sites, a project led by percussionist Claire Edwardes, while Melbourne’s Chamber Made Opera receives $32,500 for the final development and presentation of Dragon Ladies Don’t Weep, about the life and career of experimental pianist Margaret Leng Tan, created with Tan, composer and pianist Erik Griswold, director Tamara Saulwick and dramaturge Kok Heng Leun, in a co-production with CultureLink Singapore.

Receiving funding to study overseas are violinist Eleanor Hill, euphonium player...