By arts editor HELEN MUSA

Twenty-nine local arts organisations will share in a 25 per cent boost to ACT arts funding recently announced in the 2026-27 ACT Budget.

Minister for Arts, Creative Industries and the Night-Time Economy Michael Pettersson announced the funding at The Mill Theatre on Wednesday, saying it would support organisations across Canberra and across disciplines including dance, theatre, music and visual arts.

Mr Pettersson said the increased spending would give Canberrans more opportunities to experience and participate in the arts, while providing greater stability for the organisations and artists delivering those opportunities.

The funding is divided into three categories, Arts Centre, Arts Organisation and Emerging Arts Organisation, and includes many long-established arts centres and organisations.

Notably, three organisations are joining the funding program for the first time, Canberra Writers Festival, Tributary Projects Incorporated and The Mill Theatre.

Lexi Sekuless, Creative Producer at The Mill , described joining the Arts Organisation Funding program as “a career milestone”.

The full list of recipients is as follows:

Arts centre

Up to five-year funding, new funding period 2028–2032; support for ACT arts centres providing critical infrastructure, artist development, quality programs and community access.

• Arts Capital Ltd, $875,000: Creative infrastructure and precinct management, supporting the Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres.
• Belconnen Arts Centre Inc, $1,092,775: Community arts and cultural participation, supporting accessible programs and artist development in Belconnen and Gungahlin.
• Canberra Glassworks Ltd, $1,151,025: Contemporary glass practice and artist development, supporting specialist facilities, artists and public engagement.
• Canberra Potters Society Inc, $310,000: Ceramics practice and artist development through Watson Arts Centre.
• PhotoAccess Inc, $500,000: Photography and media arts development through Manuka Arts Centre.
• Strathnairn Arts Association Inc, $377,600: Visual arts practice and artist development through studios, facilities and residencies.
• The Stagemaster Inc, $1,325,000: Professional theatre presentation, new work and artist development through The Street Theatre.
• Tuggeranong Community Arts Association Inc, $1,274,193: Community arts, cultural participation and artist development through Tuggeranong Arts Centre.

Arts organisation

Up to four-year funding, new funding period 2027–2030; support for leading arts organisations delivering high-quality programs and services for artists and communities.

• Ausdance ACT Inc, $150,000: Dance sector development, professional support and participation.
• Australian Dance Party Ltd, $150,000: Contemporary dance creation, presentation, artist development and community engagement.
• Canberra Art Biennial, $90,000: Contemporary visual arts biennial, artist development and audience engagement.
• Canberra Contemporary, $370,000: Contemporary visual arts exhibitions, artistic development and audience engagement.
• Canberra International Music Festival Ltd, $130,000: Contemporary and classical music presentation, artistic development and festival audiences.
• Canberra Symphony Orchestra Ltd, $660,375: Orchestral performance, music education, artist development and community engagement.
• Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre Inc, $455,000: Craft and design exhibitions, artist and market development and public engagement.
• Luminescence Chamber Singers Inc, $150,000: Professional vocal performance, artist development and audience engagement.
• MARION, $150,000: Writer development, literary participation and sector support.
• Megalo Access Arts Inc, $480,135: Printmaking, artist development and public engagement through open-access facilities.
• Music For Canberra Inc, $236,000: Inclusive music participation, education and performance opportunities.
• MusicACT Inc, $150,000: Professional development, industry support and contemporary music sector development.
• Noisy Futures, $120,000: Inclusive contemporary music participation and creative pathways for young people of marginalised gender identities.
• QL2 Dance Inc, $430,000: Contemporary dance training, artistic development and performance opportunities for young and emerging artists.
• Rebus Theatre Inc, $150,000: Inclusive and accessible theatre-making, artist development and participation for people of all abilities.
• The Canberra Youth Theatre Inc, $450,000: Youth-led theatre, new work development and professional pathways for emerging artists.
• The Stellar Company, $150,000: Inclusive dance and multidisciplinary arts participation for diverse communities.
• Warehouse Circus Inc, $220,000: Circus participation, skills development and pathways for young people and ACT communities.

Emerging arts organisation

Two-plus-two-year funding, new funding period starting 2027; two years of funding with a possible two-year extension for organisations not previously receiving arts ACT multi-year funding.

• Canberra Writers Festival, $70,000: Annual writers festival supporting audiences, sector collaboration and opportunities for local writers.
• Lexi Sekuless Productions (Mill Theatre), $50,000: Independent theatre production, artist development and professional opportunities through Mill Theatre.
• Tributary Projects Incorporated, $50,000: Artist-led development, experimentation and professional opportunities for emerging visual artists and arts workers.

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