Major Performing Arts Framework

We seek your views on how to strengthen the Major Performing Arts Framework, through which the major performing arts companies are supported to develop and present excellent artistic works and foster a vibrant and sustainable performing arts sector.

How it works

Why we want your input

Australia's Arts and Cultural Ministers have asked us to identify ways in which the MPA Framework can be strengthened. Your views will help us understand what you think of the current MPA Framework and how it could be strengthened.

How you can voice your opinion

You can complete our online survey. The survey is open until 13 August 2018, 5pm AEST.

What will be the outcome of this consultation?

Your views will inform our report to the Meeting of Cultural Ministers on opportunities to strengthen the MPA Framework.

Consultation Information

Consultation tabs

The Issue

The Major Performing Arts (MPA) sector forms an integral part of Australia's arts and culture. The MPA sector comprises 28 leading performing arts companies in the fields of dance, theatre, circus, opera, orchestral and chamber music.

2019 will mark 20 years since the 1999 Major Performing Arts Inquiry was established, which outlined criteria for how MPA companies should be funded. The adjustments to these arrangements agreed to in 2011 by the Australian Government and state governments were reflected in the National Framework for Governments' Support of the Major Performing Arts Sector (the MPA Framework). Information on funding from the Australia Council to the MPA companies is included in the Australia Council's 2016–17 annual report.

At the Meeting of Cultural Ministers (MCM) in September 2017, Arts and Cultural Ministers from all jurisdictions tasked officials to identify opportunities to strengthen the MPA Framework.

Ministers made this request in response to Recommendation 5.3 of the National Opera Review Final Report which stated that the MPA Framework may need to be reviewed in the medium to long term.

The MPA Framework has provided the MPA companies with certainty and stability in funding, which has enabled them to play an integral role in the development of the performing arts in Australia, both as a major employers of artists, creatives and arts workers and as leading presenters of high-quality work to audiences across Australia.

MPA company reporting to the Australia Council indicates that the companies provide employment to approximately 10,500 people and reach 4 million people through attendances at performances, school activities or workshops each year.

Since the MPA Framework’s inception, the Australian arts and culture landscape has undergone significant change. Australian society and audiences have developed, infrastructure and funding for the arts has evolved, technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate and Australian artists have become increasingly global in their focus, reach and activities.

This preliminary consultation process is a chance for you to provide your views on the MPA Framework and opportunities for it to be strengthened. This will inform officials’ report back to Ministers at the next MCM in September 2018 and consideration of whether the way the MPA Framework supports the MPA sector and Australia’s broader arts ecology could be improved.

Relevant documentation

Participate

You are invited to have your say on this issue by completing the survey on the MPA Framework.

If you have any questions or for more information please email mpaframework@arts.gov.au.

Outcomes

We received 8,026 responses to the Major Performing Arts (MPA) Framework survey which was conducted between 19 July and 13 August 2018. The survey sought views on the MPA Framework and opportunities for it to be strengthened. The survey was part of the Australian, state and territory governments' preliminary phase of consultation on the MPA Framework, which also included engagement with the MPA companies and representative bodies.

Survey responses were received from all states and territories and the response rate was largely proportionate to population in most jurisdictions.

Respondents were primarily from major cities (87 per cent) and 81 per cent of respondents reported that they had engaged with one or more MPA company in the last 24 months. Seventy two per cent of respondents identified as an MPA company audience member or workshop participant.

More than two-thirds of respondents (68 per cent) rated 'having a vibrant major performing arts sector that enriches Australian life and builds Australia's image as an innovative and sophisticated nation' as the most important of four guiding principles.

The majority of respondents rated high artistic quality as the most important criteria that should be met by MPA companies.

Half of the respondents rated 'delivering innovative and new programming, including new Australian work', as the most important government priority for the MPA companies.

Themes emerged about how respondents thought the Framework could be strengthened, including:

more diversity, including greater gender and Indigenous representation and leadership
better access to the MPA companies including through affordability, regional performances and delivery of educational programs
further development and employment opportunities for creative workers
more new works and Australian content
increased transparency in decision making in relation to supported companies
importance of accountability for the funding received
updated processes for determining which companies are supported
increased funding for the arts generally, particularly for small to medium organisations.

The majority of respondents – 85 per cent – supported the way the companies are funded under the Framework to the extent that the Framework does not subject the MPA companies to a competitive process through peer‑review but requires them to remain highly accountable for the funding received.

Agreement with the funding arrangements was strongest among respondents who had engaged with one or more MPA company in the last 24 months and weakest among respondents who had not. As noted above, the importance of the companies being accountable for the funding they receive under the Framework was a theme in the written responses from both those who agreed and those who disagreed with the above statement.

The findings from the survey, along with the consultation with representative bodies and the MPA companies, were considered by arts and cultural ministers at the annual Meeting of Cultural Ministers on 14 September 2018. The ministers agreed that the next phase would be to release a consultation paper seeking views on potential enhancements to the MPA Framework. The outcomes of preliminary consultation, including consultation with MPA companies, are summarised in the consultation paper. The paper and information on how to contribute your views is available on the Australia Council's website (see link below).

Find out more:

Where were our respondents from?Image of Australia, WA: 1,211, SA: 1,137, NT: 25, VIC: 1,800, QLD: 945, NSW: 2,494, ACT: 99, TAS: 154, 21 Remote, 7 Very remote, 152 Outer regional, 695 Inner regional, 6,990 Major cities, 161 Unidentified

Respondents were interested in the performing arts, Two circles overlapping, 72 per cent - an audience member of one or more of the MPA companies, 51 per cent - an audience member of a performing arts company other than an MPA company