The West Australian Ballet and Black Swan State Theatre Company are among six arts companies across Australia to win extra funding in the federal government’s new cultural policy.
Arts Minister Simon Crean has announced that funding for six Major Performing Arts Companies (out of 28) would be boosted by $9.3 million over four years.
Of that total, WA Ballet will get an extra $1.3 million and Black Swan an extra $900,000.
Black Swan was identified in a 2011 review as being under-funded.
It plans to increase the number of theatre productions it presents on an annual basis.
Black Swan’s general manager Shane Colquhoun said the company “now calls upon the State Government to confirm its recurrent co-funding contribution as part of the 2013-14 budget process”.
“The Barnett Liberal Government provided one-off funding with the Australian government for Black Swan’s 2013 season, which has enabled Black Swan to present two additional productions this year, including a highly successful season for Perth’s 2013 Fringe World Festival,” he said.
Artistic director Kate Cherry said the company’s vision was to be “an internationally recognised company of scale and excellence, with regular national and international touring and creative partnerships”.
Since taking up residency at the State Theatre Centre of WA in 2011, Black Swan’s earned income (box office, sponsorship and donations) has increased by $1.9 million or 90 per cent over two years.