Funding for small-to-medium art music organisations in Brisbane (Queensland, Australia): a case study

Abstract

When discussing any livelihood, a key consideration is monetary support. This is of particular concern for music livelihoods, as many art music organisations rely on external sources of funding. As both public and private funding levels are influenced by myriad factors and thus often change, this case study has been undertaken to investigate and document the current funding environment for small-to-medium art music organisations in Brisbane. As a result of historical, organisational, physical, and public financial factors, the city of Brisbane has developed a particular cultural milieu which has resulted in a two-tiered musical workforce characterised by the level of support and opportunity available. A defining part of this is that small-to-medium organisations suffer low and fluctuating levels of public funding. These organisations may thus benefit significantly from seeking private support. Philanthropic practices with art music organisations in Australia are little studied, and the use of generalised cultivation strategies may have detrimental effects. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the importance of private funding for the survival of art music organisations, and this lends additional urgency to undertaking research into philanthropy with small-to-medium art music organisations as it is specific to Brisbane.