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:
- Artback NT (Northern Territory)
- Back to Back Theatre (Geelong, Victoria)
- Dancenorth Australia (North Queensland)
- Griffin Theatre Company (Sydney, NSW)
- Ilbijerri Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Theatre Co-op (Melbourne, Victoria)
- Marrugeku Inc (Broome, WA)
- Terrapin Puppet Theatre (Hobart, Tasmania)
- Windmill Theatre Co (Adelaide, South Australia)
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
These companies must meet a range of criteria, including the demonstration of the highest artistic standards, a sizeable audience base and having a minimum average income of more than $1.6 million over the previous three-year period.
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 |
Media releases
- Broadening the National Performing Arts Partnership Framework, The Hon Paul Fletcher MP, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts – 11 June 2021
- Meeting of Cultural Ministers Communique – 11 October 2019
- National agreement on new framework to support the performing arts sector, The Hon Paul Fletcher MP, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts – 11 October 2019
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.