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Victoria spending $170m on arts sector

Liz HobdayAAP
Victorian Acting Premier James Merlino says $170m will be poured into the hard-hit arts sector.
Camera IconVictorian Acting Premier James Merlino says $170m will be poured into the hard-hit arts sector. Credit: AAP

The Victorian government will spend another $170 million to revive the state's creative arts sector.

The money will include funding towards a major redevelopment of the Geelong arts centre, with a new 500-seat theatre and a second 250-seat theatre.

"The last 12 months has been incredibly hard on everyone, but particularly our creative arts sector," Acting Premier James Merlino told reporters on Tuesday.

There will also be $33 million for the Melbourne Museum to develop a "Gondwana Garden" and a Triceratops gallery, which will house a 67 million-year-old Triceratops, billed as the world's most complete dinosaur fossil.

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Another $4.5 million will go to suburban and regional creative hubs, including Emporium Creative Hub Bendigo and Brunswick Design District.

About $10 million will go to the live music industry to support restarting live concert tours.

The statewide package is expected to create about 20,000 jobs.

The government unveiled a $190 million four-year package for the screen industry on Monday, which it says should support another 40,000 jobs.

The Geelong Arts Centre development is slated to be finished in 2023.

Also on Tuesday, the state government announced it would build an Aboriginal family violence refuge in Horsham.

The $9.1 million crisis accommodation will also be funded through next week's state budget.

The "core and cluster" accommodation model will feature up to six units and a support building on the one property.

"This model of support is world-leading, making sure that women and their children can live independently while also accessing on-site and culturally safe care," said Family Violence Prevention Minister Gabrielle Williams."

"We know connection is a huge part of healing. This new refuge will enable victim survivors to stay connected to their kinship networks, community and culture."

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