The Australia Council has today announced that 144 arts organisations will receive a share of $31.7M per annum in funding offered through the revised Four Year Funding for Organisations program.

CEO Adrian Collette AM said the new measures, delivered within the Council’s existing budget, were essential during this critical period when the cultural and creative sectors are experiencing immediate and enormous challenges due to the impact of COVID-19.

“When we embarked on this Four Year Funding process, it was a very different landscape for the sector, and indeed the world.

“We have been aligning all our multi-year organisation funding programs, including Four Year Funding, the National Performing Arts Partnership Framework and the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy.

“In the light of COVID-19, it has been essential to revise this round of Four Year Funding to provide support for the greatest possible number of small to medium arts organisations.  This has involved increasing the program funding and the number of funded organisations. This is to enable as many as possible small to medium arts organisations to continue to operate, and to strengthen the long term sustainability of the arts sector and the many thousands of Australians it supports.

“However, achieving this and still supporting more organisations through 2021 requires the first year of FYF funding to be offered at a reduced level. This is not business as usual for anyone, and arts organisations also will need to adapt in order to weather these unprecedented times.

“I also acknowledge the whole of government support available to arts organisations under the JobKeeper payment. I encourage all eligible companies in the arts and creative sector to register their interest on the Australian Taxation Office website.

“Finally, I take this opportunity to thank the expert peers who assessed the applications. Their deep and wide knowledge was crucial to us being able to make the necessary and difficult decisions.”

Changes to Four Year Funding 

• Funding will be provided for 95 organisations who were successful in the application process, including 28 organisations new to Four Year Funding from 2021- 2024. The first year of funding from 2021 will be at a reduced level (approximately 70%) to enable more organisations to receive vital support through 2021.
• Contract extensions of twelve months will be provided for 49 organisations that currently receive Four Year Funding 2017-2020 but were not successful for 2021-2024, providing additional time for them to recalibrate their organisations and make plans for the future. The additional funding for 2021 will be at a reduced level (approximately 70%).

Media contact: 

Brianna Roberts, Media Manager

Australia Council for the Arts

Phone: (02) 9215 9030 Mobile: 0498 123 541

Email: b.roberts@creative.gov.au

Key Facts

• $31.7M million per annum will be invested in the Four Year Funding (FYF) 2021-2024 program for small to medium arts organisations.
•  A total of 412 Expressions of Interest were received in Stage One, following which 162 organisations were invited to submit a full application in Stage Two (representing a 39% success rate). Of these, 160 organisations applied: 99 who currently receive FYF 2017-2020 and 61 organisations who don’t.
• In total 95 organisations were successful for FYF 2021-2024:
  • This includes 67 currently funded FYF 2017-2020 organisations.
  • 28 organisations not currently receiving FYF 2017-2020.
  • The overall success rate for Stage Two is 59%.
• The budget allocation for FYF 2021-2024 has been increased to $31.7M, from approximately $28M in FYF 2017-2020.
• 118 peers assessed applications across both stages in the areas of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts; Community Arts and Cultural Development; Dance; Emerging and Experimental Arts; Literature; Multi-Arts; Music; Theatre; and Visual Arts.
• The minimum amount organisations could request each year was $100,000 and the maximum was $500,000.
• FYF 2021-2024 agreements start on 1 January 2021 and finish on 31 December 2024.
• Australia Council funding is part of a national arts funding framework which includes support through federal, state and local government programs, private sector support and philanthropy.
• Out of 39 invited organisations who applied for Visual Arts and Craft Strategy funding, 35 organisations were successful and these new arrangements will commence in 2022.
• A detailed review of the 2017-2020 FYF program will take place in the second half of 2021 once all financial and statistical data reporting has been received.

Learn more about Four Year Funding for Organisations.