Country Arts SA and State Opera are set to receive a combined boost of up to $1.6 million through a partnership between the Malinauskas Government and private donors, announced as part of the first national AusArt Day.
AusArt Day, created under the Albanese Government’s Cultural Policy Revive, is a new initiative encouraging people to support their favourite artists and organisations through donations. To mark the occasion, the Malinauskas Government has pledged to match private contributions made to Country Arts SA and State Opera dollar-for-dollar, strengthening ties between public funding and private philanthropy.
Under the plan, Country Arts SA will receive up to $610,000 over three years, which could grow to $1.2 million when matched by private donations. State Opera is expected to gain as much as $400,000 this financial year through the same arrangement.
The announcement follows a similar funding model introduced earlier this year for Adelaide Festival, which received $1.3 million in combined support. Since taking office, the Malinauskas Government has directed an additional $160 million towards South Australia’s arts sector and introduced A Place to Create, the state’s first 10-year cultural policy.
Arts Minister Andrea Michaels said AusArt Day was the perfect moment to highlight the value of collaboration between government and the community. She praised Country Arts SA for its outreach across regional areas and State Opera for its ongoing contributions to the state’s cultural life.
“Country Arts SA brings creative experiences to people living outside metropolitan Adelaide, while State Opera continues to present world-class productions such as Roméo et Juliette, premiering tonight at Her Majesty’s Theatre,” Ms Michaels said. “This matching program helps us bring public and private investment together to strengthen our arts sector.”
Country Arts SA Chief Executive Anthony Peluso said the additional funding would help broaden access to the arts for regional communities. “Our donors and audiences play a huge role in keeping the arts alive,” he said. “Their generosity helps young people experience art for the first time, provides transport options for those living regionally, and supports the creation of new work. We’re confident our supporters will rise to this challenge so we can double our impact across South Australia.”
The matched funding model is designed to encourage long-term investment in the state’s cultural institutions while giving communities a more direct role in sustaining them. By combining government backing with private generosity, the initiative aims to ensure South Australian artists and organisations can continue to thrive well into the future.
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