The month of May saw disappointing funding news for the arts in Australia, with as many as 63 arts companies and organisations informed that they had lost their Australia Council funding. Among those affected, organisations that have solid roots with years to their names were too disregarded; for many the loss of Australia Council funding is significant as it is core organisational funding that is relied on so heavily. Whilst organisations may still apply for project funding, that from the Council does provide the stability and security they require to plan for the future and indeed survive.
Organisations such as KAGE, Force Majeure and Balletlab were among those that lost funding, dance theatre companies with successful histories. KAGE, for example, is a small company nearly 20 years old, having survived for 16 years on short-term and project grants. 2012 saw the organisation receive its first AC Key Organisations grant over four years, yet 2016 has seen its future falter in uncertainty. Much of KAGE’s artistic programme is devoted to bringing dance into the community, rather than solely producing dance for the stage. The focus is just as much on teaching, exchange and making dance accessible as it is on performing.
Additionally, The Australian Dance Council (Ausdance Inc (Ausdance National) has been notified by the Australia Council that it will not receive operational funding beyond the end of December this year, another blow to the arts community down under. Ausdance National supports the Australian Dance Awards, the National Dance Forum and safe dance research, among many other activities, and is a keystone for dance in Australia.
Last year, Australia Council’s funding was reduced by $105million by the former arts minister, which meant Australia’s small-to-medium arts companies were aware that cuts were imminent, despite the fact a third of the lost funding was then restored by the new minister. 43 new organisations have received multi-year grants for the first time, however many may contest the funding of these at the expense of established companies, regardless of how important shift and evolution is for the arts.