Canberra Symphony Orchestra Receives $4.1 Million in New Federal Funding

In Monday’s (5/13) Arts Hub (Australia), Richard Watts writes, “Canberra Symphony Orchestra (CSO) has received a much-needed injection of $4.1 million Federal funding over the next four years. The new funding, announced as part of the 2024-25 Budget, comes at a critical time for the CSO, given that the Orchestra’s viability was threatened by reductions in sponsorship support and ticket sales in the wake of the pandemic. Rising program costs and a history of receiving significantly less Commonwealth funding than any other Australian state orchestra have also impacted the CSO. ‘This funding is not just a lifeline; it’s a building block to help secure the future of an Australian institution that has long championed Australian music and culture,’ says CSO Chief Executive Officer Rachel Thomas, ‘which not only delivers a program of music that has been recognized as the most diverse in Australia, but [also] makes a huge economic and social contribution … through employment of local people, and community programs that ensure music is accessible to everyone.’… The CSO makes a major commitment to supporting Australian composers, with 45% of works in the Orchestra’s 2023 season composed by Australians…. The new Federal funding will also enable the Orchestra to continue to deliver educational and mentorship programs.”