CAST companies acknowledge Australia Council's Four Year Funding for organisations

These are extraordinary times; COVID 19 has brought about necessary bans on public gatherings resulting in thousands of cancelled performances for people across the country – and along with that, the loss of thousands of jobs.

It is a difficult time to find good news, however we want to congratulate the performing arts organisations that will receive ongoing base funding for the first time and acknowledge their achievements and the contribution they make to Australian artists and audiences.

As an interconnected industry, it is also important to highlight the many organisations that have not secured this investment, and which may be lost, along with the value that they create for our communities. The decision making around this would have been extremely difficult for those involved and devastating for those affected, and we acknowledge the work of the Australia Council in providing an additional one year of support for companies that were not invited into the final round.

The COVID-19 crisis has placed many well-known companies in many industries at risk. For non-profit cultural organisations, financial sustainability is always precarious. As we seek creative solutions to weather the pandemic, we urge our State and Federal Governments to remember that it is the arts and culture that will help entertain and connect Australians during the shut-down, and also that will help to re-build, educate and inspire our people once normal life resumes.

Public investment in culture is crucial to deliver value to the community by creating and delivering personal well-being, social connection, innovation, employment and education.

Statement Issued by Confederation of State Theatre Companies:

• Queensland Theatre
• Sydney Theatre Company
• Belvoir Street Theatre
• Bell Shakespeare
• Melbourne Theatre Company
• Malthouse Theatre
• State Theatre Company South Australia
• Black Swan State Theatre Company