Minister Barr: 2017-18 ACT Budget - Better support for the arts in Canberra
- Written by ACT Government
The ACT Budget 2017-18 provides better support for Canberra’s thriving arts sector.
The Budget invests in arts facilities right across our city, including the Ainslie Arts Centre, Gorman House Arts Centre, Strathnairn, Tuggeranong Arts Centre and Watson Arts Centre. The Government will also deliver on our commitment to invest in stage 2 of the Belconnen Arts Centre, with $15 million allocated to the project.
This Budget will also deliver important funding for arts projects and arts events to provide greater certainty in arts project funding and support a vibrant calendar of events. We are ensuring that there will be $750,000 invested in arts projects.
We are also ensuring that all Canberrans enjoy the investment the Government is making in the arts community by supporting a number of arts events in Canberra throughout the year, including Art, Not Apart, DESIGN Canberra and the Canberra Writers Festival.
The Budget contains a $21.6 million package for the Arts over four years.
Better arts facilities across the Territory
The Budget is investing $16.3 million over four years into upgrading and expanding our arts centres and facilities across the city, including:
- $15 million over three years for the expansion of Belconnen Arts Centre. This will fund the final design and construction of the stage two works. These upgrades will include a multi-use town hall/performance space, new dance studios and an expanded exhibition space;
- $880,000 over four years in upgrades to five arts centres across the Territory – Ainslie Arts Centre, Gorman House Arts Centre, Strathnairn, Tuggeranong Arts Centre and Watson Arts Centre;
- $280,000 to upgrade the Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG) with more secure, efficient and modern lighting; and
- $100,000 for community consultation on upgrades to Canberra Theatre and performing arts infrastructure.
Better support for artists
The Budget will significantly increase funding for individual artists and local arts events.
This includes:
Establishing new baseline funding of $750,000 per year for arts projects funding, supporting individual arts projects across Canberra for the next four years. This is an increase to the baseline funding for the program, which has supported 219 arts projects over the past five years;
- $500,000 to support arts events including Art, Not Apart, DESIGN Canberra and the Canberra Writers Festival as well as pop-up arts events in Woden and Gungahlin starting in 2018-19;
- $250,000 per year for four years to support the Australia National University’s Advanced Music Performance Program; and
- $100,000 per year for four years to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts and Culture.
