The Australia Council for the Arts has revised its Four Year Funding program for arts organisations, extending grants opportunities in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
Chief Executive of the Council, Adrian Collette said the new measures, delivered within the Council’s existing budget, were essential during the pandemic period.
“When we embarked on this Four Year Funding process, it was a very different landscape for the sector, and indeed the world,” Mr Collette said.
“We have been aligning all our multi-year organisation funding programs, including Four Year Funding, the National Performing Arts Partnership Framework and the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy.”
He said the revision of $31.7 million in annual funding would provide support for the greatest number of small to medium arts organisations.
“However, achieving this and still supporting more organisations through 2021 requires the first year of Four Year Funding to be offered at a reduced level,” Mr Collette said.
“This is not business as usual for anyone, and arts organisations also will need to adapt in order to weather these unprecedented times.”
He said funding would be provided for 95 organisations who were successful in the application process, including 28 organisations that were new to Four Year Funding.
“The first year of funding from 2021 will be at a reduced level (approximately 70 per cent) to enable more organisations to receive vital support through 2021,” Mr Collette said.
He said contract extensions of 12 months would be provided for 49 organisations that currently receive Four Year Funding for the 2017-2020 period but had not been successful for 2021-2024 round funding.
“This provides additional time for them to recalibrate their organisations and make plans for the future,” Mr Collette said.
