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

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 is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts