WA Minister for Culture and the Arts John Day and Federal Minister for the Arts Mitch Fifield with dancers from the West Australian Ballet.
With a recent visit to Western Australia, Minister for the Arts Mitch Fifield has unveiled much-awaited recipients for the second tranche of Catalyst funding.
The Goods Shed in Western Australia has been allocated $400,000; the West Australian Ballet has received $114,440; and in an announcement later today, $45,925 has been provided for international exchange programs run by the West Australian Music Industry Association (WAM).
Funding ballet, music industry and international residencies has received some criticism within parts of the sector who see a need in Western Australia to be funding innovative arts projects that include Indigenous artists and communities.
A total of $12 million has been allocated to Catalyst for the 2015/16 financial year. ArtsHub was previously told that the full list of recipients will be released before 30 June 2016, amid concerns that the financial year is coming to a close and a large portion of the funding is yet to be allocated.
The first round of funding saw three fast-tracked recipients The Hush Foundation, Suzanne O’Connell Gallery and Associate and The Last Great Hunt share in $564,840.
The Goods Shed
The funding will support the establishment of The Goods Shed in Claremont, by local arts organisation FORM, to support urban renewal in the area.
The Goods Shed development will include a facility for visiting artists, including opportunities for residencies in rural and regional Western Australia.
