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National Performing Arts Partnership Framework (Partnership Framework)

About the partnership framework

In June 2021, the Australian Government announced eight new organisations will join the National Performing Arts Partnership Framework, as part of the Government’s investment in building a vibrant performing arts ecology.

The National Performing Arts Partnership Framework provides significant investment in Australian performing arts for the benefit of Australian audiences.

The Framework is administered by the Australia Council, in partnership with all states and the Northern Territory. With the new entrants joining, the investment provides ongoing support to 37 companies.

The Framework was launched by the Australian and all state and territory governments in October 2019 to provide a cohesive and collaborative national approach to sustainable arts funding into the future and to guide effective decision making for the sector.

Organisations funded under the Framework will benefit from the stability of up to eight years funding. The Framework provides:

  • a clear approach to prioritising outcomes for the Australian performing arts sector, audiences and communities, such as growing First Nations arts;
  • a pathway to expand the number of funded companies through a two-stage invitation and assessment process;
  • stability of funding balanced with flexibility so governments can jointly respond to changing priorities;
  • increased transparency and accountability through enhanced reporting; and
  • a new approach to rewarding artistic and organisational excellence.

The eight new entrants to the Framework include the first organisation from the Northern Territory and the first regional organisations from Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria. The new entrants are:

Read the media release from the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, announcing the new entrants to the National Partnership Framework.

Read more about the National Performing Arts Partnership Framework PDF | RTF | DOCX 

The following table provides information on the annual investment amounts in 2023 for organisations in the National Performing Arts Partnership Framework.

Company Artform Australia Council Investment State
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Orchestra $7,662,639 SA
Artback NT Cross-Artform $571,825 NT
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra Music $824,626 NSW
Australian Chamber Orchestra Music $2,109,913 NSW
Back to Back Theatre Theatre $516,615 VIC
Bangarra Dance $2,721,237 NSW
Bell Shakespeare Theatre $746,644 NSW
Belvoir Theatre $1,137,423 NSW
Black Swan State Theatre Company Theatre $694,625 WA
Circa Theatre $734,833 QLD
Dancenorth Dance $516,615 QLD
Griffin Theatre Theatre $516,615 NSW
Ilbijerri Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Theatre Theatre $516,615 VIC
Malthouse Theatre $1,493,786 VIC
Marrugeku Dance $516,615 WA
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Orchestra $11,925,524 VIC
Melbourne Theatre Company Theatre $2,436,909 VIC
Musica Viva Music $1,892,275 NSW
Opera Australia Opera $22,940,468 NSW
Opera Queensland Opera $724,627 QLD
Orchestra Victoria Orchestra $6,587,468 VIC
Queensland Ballet Dance $814,601 QLD
Queensland Symphony Orchestra Orchestra $8,523,369 QLD
Queensland Theatre Theatre $910,778 QLD
State Opera of South Australia Opera $1,674,158 SA
State Theatre Company of SA Theatre $668,056 SA
Sydney Dance Company Dance $2,911,777 NSW
Sydney Symphony Orchestra Orchestra $12,453,495 NSW
Sydney Theatre Company Theatre $2,476,530 NSW
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Orchestra $7,221,281 TAS
Terrapin Puppet Theatre Theatre $516,615 TAS
The Australian Ballet Dance $6,548,096 VIC
Victorian Opera Opera $689,028 VIC
West Australian Ballet Dance $849,136 WA
West Australian Opera Opera $524,588 WA
West Australian Symphony Orchestra Orchestra $7,873,721 WA
Windmill Theatre Theatre $516,615 SA

Related information

Media releases

Meet the new organisations joining the partnership framework

Credits from left to right and top to bottom:

  • Rachael Wallis, Artback NT Indigenous Artist in Residence, Taiwan, June – July 2018. Photographer: Remix Beauty and Image Studio.
  • The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes, Carriageworks, Back to Back Theatre, Image Zan Wimberley 2019.
  • Tectonic – Credit Amber Haines.
  • Sandy Greenwood, Dogged, 2021 – By Brett Boardman.
  • Conversations with the Dead by Richard Frankland. Photographer: Jeff Busby.
  • Eric Avery, Miranda Wheen, Josh Mu, Ngaire Pigram, Edwin Mulligan & Dalisa Pigram in Cut the Sky (Marrugeku). Photographer: Jon Green, 2015.
  • A Not So Traditional Story 2018. Photographer: Bryony Jackson.
  • Rumpelstiltskin by Windmill Theatre Company. Photographer: The Other Richard.