News

Six arts organisations faced with devastating funding cuts by local council

Six arts and cultural organisations including Australian Tapestry Workshop and Red Stitch Actors Theatre face losing $30,000 a year if Port Phillip Council’s plans go ahead, placing significant strain on already lean operations.

21 May 2021 12:00

Richard Watts

Visual Arts

The loss of funding for key arts organisations in the City of Port Phillip threatens the area’s vibrant culture. Image Shutterstock.

The City of Port Phillip – encompassing Melbourne’s bayside suburbs St Kilda, Albert Park and Middle Park, among others – is reputedly planning to axe triennial funding for six nationally significant arts and cultural organisations.

Currently classified by the council as Key Organisations, the six organisations – the Australian Tapestry Workshop; Rawcus Theatre Company; Red Stitch Actors Theatre; The Torch; Phillip Adams BalletLab, and Theatre Works – each currently receive $30,000 per year over three years.

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Richard Watts

Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in 2020. In 2021 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association. Most recently, Richard received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts