Dancers rehearse in the Primrose Potter Australian Ballet Centre in Melbourne. Source: SMH. Photo: Joe Armao.
John Dailey and Debbie Cuthbertson, New round of controversial Catalyst arts funding quietly posted as government enters caretaker mode, Sydney Morning Herald, 9 May 2016
The Coalition’s controversial Catalyst arts funding program has promised a new round of almost $12 million in funding to more than 45 organisations as the Turnbull Government moves into caretaker mode.
Arts Minister Mitch Fifield’s office did not make an official announcement regarding the funding but an updated the list of Catalyst recipients was visible on the department’s website without fanfare hours after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called an election for July 2.
A spokeswoman for the Minister said the latest funding recipients were published on the Catalyst website on Friday.
Big winners this round include The Australian Ballet, awarded $1 million to redevelop The Primrose Potter Australian Ballet Centre; The Bundanon Trust artist’s residence ($995,000); Queensland’s Circa ($840,000); Playwriting Australia ($800,000); National Library of Australia ($660,000) and Expressions Dance Company ($610,000).
It is unclear when the funds will be delivered, however, and where the money is coming from. If it is not sourced from the current budget, the possibility arises that the government is pre-spending funds ahead of the July 2 election that will decide who holds the purse-strings.
