Dazzling Dan the Magic Man has continued to entertain people throughout the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to an Arts and Culture COVID-19 recovery grant from the City of Greater Geelong.

Dan Bingham is the Vice President of the Australian Institute of Magic and a full-time professional magician. He was the recipient of a $4000 grant from the City to help him set up a home studio so he can stream live magic shows during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City has helped to support performers like Dan by committing $510 000 through its COVID-19 support packages for the arts and cultural sector.

Dan normally performs at children’s and adult’s parties functions schools agricultural shows retirement villages and Aged Care Facilities but this has not been possible under lockdown.

He has recently live-streamed his performances for residents at TLC Aged Care in Belmont Warralily and Wallington.

The recovery grants were recommended by the Geelong COVID-19 Arts Recovery Advisory Pane (G-CAR) a group of 21 industry experts brought together by the City in May 2020.

More information visit our:

• grants page or
• arts and culture page.

Deputy Mayor Trent Sullivan

The pandemic has had a devastating impact on our cultural sector through the cancellation of gigs and events the closure of cultural facilities and the overall economic downturn.

The grants have helped support our creative community and artists like Dan to keep performing and safely bring a smile to people’s faces.

Whether in-person or on the screen Dan helps the young and the young at heart to believe in the power of magic and we all need a little magic in our lives right now.

Councillor Eddy Kontelj

Greater Geelong’s 30-year clever and creative vision sets a goal for us to establish ourselves as a leading cultural region.

We’re seeing some amazing ideas and creativity come to life through our arts and cultural grants. They are so much more than a lifeline for our creative community they’re helping artists and performers to practice their craft and do what they do best.

Dan Bingham

I had a month of magic shows lined up in August and many would have been cancelled had it not been for the grant.

Nursing homes all over the Geelong region were deeply impacted by lockdowns and unable to have visitors on-site but I was still able to connect with residents by live streaming my shows.

The ability to switch between live performance and live-streaming from my own studio has enabled me to continue many shows entertaining and inspiring communities across Victoria including schools libraries and business workforces.