The ACT Government has awarded more than $9 million in annual arts funding to support a network of leading Canberra arts and cultural organisations and arts centres through the ACT Arts Organisation Investment Program.

Minister for the Arts Tara Cheyne congratulated the 29 successful applicants.

“Applications to the Arts Organisation Investment Program were highly competitive and showed the capacity and ambition of our vibrant arts sector,” Ms Cheyne said.

“Significant increased funding for the Arts Organisation Investment Program, committed through the 2022-23 Budget, provides an opportunity for a reset of the ACT Government’s support to the arts sector for the first time in many years.”

In the 2022-23 Budget, the ACT Government boosted the ACT Arts Fund by $3.07 million over four years, including $720,000 indexed and ongoing from 2025-26 for ACT arts organisations, to provide programs, services, expertise, and infrastructure to support and develop the arts and engage with the local community.

This effectively provided a 10 per cent increase on core key arts organisation and arts program funding.

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To simplify its funding, the ACT Government combined previous funding categories into one category for all arts organisation funding. This includes key arts organisation and arts program funding as well as including Community Outreach, Visual Arts and Crafts, and other ongoing budget initiatives like the Woden and Gungahlin Pop-ups.

The result is that more than $9 million is available, a spokesperson explained. The government has streamlined administrative arrangements for organisations to only receive and manage one total amount of funding rather than a number of funding categories as in the past, reducing the administrative burden to organisations.

The government has increased funding for eight organisations that manage Canberra’s arts. The Stagemaster Inc. received $950,000 to manage the Street Theatre; Belconnen Arts Centre received $900,000; Tuggeranong Community Arts Association received $860,000 to manage the Tuggeranong Arts Centre; Canberra Glassworks received $850,000; Arts Capital received $720,000 to manage the Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres; PhotoAccess received $280,000 to manage the Manuka Arts Centre; and Canberra Potters Society and the Straithnairn Arts Association each received $200,000 to manage the Watson Arts Centre and the Straithnairn Arts Centre respectively.

Elizabeth Rogers, Chief Executive Officer of Canberra Glassworks, welcomed the increase in funding and the security of a five-year commitment from the ACT Government.

“This announcement provides a firm foundation that will assist us to deliver the ambitious objectives of the new Arts, Culture and Creative Policy and to contribute to the ambition of making Canberra Australia’s Arts Capital,” Ms Rogers said.

The government is also providing multi-year funding for arts organisations and practices, Ms Cheyne said. The biggest recipients are the Canberra Symphony Orchestra ($600,000); Craft ACT ($410,000); Megalo Access Arts ($370,000); QL2 Dance Canberra ($360,000); and Contemporary Art Space, Canberra Youth Theatre, Music for Canberra (each $300,000).

The government opened funding to new entrants, in response to sector feedback. Three organisations will receive new multi-year funding: Contour 556 (Canberra Art Biennial) has received $50,000 to deliver a biennial contemporary visual arts festival in public spaces; Luminescence Chamber Singers has received $40,000 to deliver vocal / choral development programs and performances; and the Stellar Company has received $40,000 to develop and present inclusive dance activities for people of all abilities, ages, and backgrounds.

Liz Lea, director of the Stellar Company, said her organisation was thrilled to have received Program Funding as an Emerging Organisation.

“We are particularly honoured given the rich tapestry of arts organisations based here in the ACT,” she said. “This funding will provide the foundations from which we can continue to develop our suite of programs which connect with people of all backgrounds ages and abilities. The support speaks to the commitment the ACT Government has towards nurturing a more accessible and inclusive society through the presentation of quality community arts offerings.”

“We look forward to seeing how these organisations further enhance the arts and cultural landscape with the certainty that this funding provides,” Ms Cheyne said.

The new ACT Arts Organisation Investment Program has been informed through extensive consultation with the arts sector since 2018, including as part of the process for the development of Canberra: Australia’s Arts Capital – Arts, Culture and Creative Policy 2022–2026. Applications were assessed by artsACT and industry experts.

Funding will enable organisations to support and develop the arts through a wide range of programs, services, expertise, and infrastructure. These organisations provide sector development, professional pathways for artists and arts workers, support a diversity of activity, and provide important access and engagement opportunities for the whole community, Ms Cheyne said.

For more information, go to www.arts.act.gov.au/funding/current-funding-recipients.