In December, Creative Australia announced the results of its Four Year Investment for Organisations (FYIO) program, the backbone of federal arts funding for organisations nationwide. Metro Arts in Brisbane was unsuccessful in its bid for funding beyond 2025, a decision that has caused significant professional grief and anxiety for the many artists that have come to rely on the organisation.
In conversation with ArtsHub, former CEO Jo Thomas and current Executive Director Genevieve Trace say they are bewildered and frustrated by Creative Australia’s decision. The decision raises questions about the financial health and sustainability of small to medium arts organisations, the assessment models for federal funding and the long-term effect on the ecology of Queensland arts.
