Canberra Theatre Centre director Alex Budd has welcomed the ACT government's announcement of additional funding during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Budd said the ACT government's announcement of $2.5 million for the Cultural Facilities Corporation, which administers the CTC, was great news.
That funding will be on top of the $2.8 million the ACT government provided to support the local arts sector and protect local jobs.
As of this week the announcement has brought the ACT government's additional funding for the arts sector during COVID-19 to $5,382,423.
Mr Budd was also glad to see the federal government was launching a stimulus package for the arts, because although none of the money would come directly to the CTC, some of it would fund productions that would be come to the ACT.
COVID-19 restrictions meant the CTC's season could not go ahead as planned, with productions having to be rescheduled or, as in the case of the tour of Bran Nue Dae, cancelled altogether.
"I feel very strongly for my former employer, Opera Australia, because all their productions had to be cancelled," Mr Budd said.
During the confinement period, the CTC launched its free CTC@Home streaming program of funded local arts content.
Mr Budd said: "It's been really successful - we're getting more than 2000 people looking at each of our events."
The program will be extended by another four weeks, running until August 7.
Mr Budd said among the productions he hoped would come to the CTC in the second half of the year was Bluey's Big Play, now scheduled for December.
The first large-scale event scheduled in the Canberra Theatre is a performance by the Australian rock band The Rubens on September 30. Arrangements are being made with Canberra Youth Theatre to present Katie Pollock's play NORMAL in October.
Mr Budd noted productions not only sold tickets but also stimulated the economy by attracting people to the city's restaurants and hotels.
Minister for the Arts, Creative Industries and Cultural Events, Gordon Ramsay, said: "These measures are designed to provide wide support across our arts community and give many local artists, technical staff and local Canberrans more job opportunities.
"The CFC funding also supports our economic development by ensuring our premier performance and arts venues can be fully used again once social distancing restrictions ease.
"The Canberra Theatre Centre contributed nearly $33 million in economic impact last year through their events and we need to ensure that the centre can continue to operate."
Chief executive of the Cultural Facilities Corporation Harriet Elvin said: "We have taken a large financial hit, especially with the temporary closure of our theatre venues, which usually generate over 50 per cent of our income.
"While we wait for restrictions to ease, the funding will allow us to continue to operate and deliver services to the community and to explore new ways to connect with our audiences."
- See canberratheatrecentre.com.au for more information and facebook.com/canberratheatrecentre for streamed content.
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