Page 3281 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 22 August 2012
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When I add up all the activities of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra and I look at the funding it gets, I am amazed at what it achieves.
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: One moment, Mrs Dunne. Members, there is a lot of noise in the chamber. I am having trouble hearing Mrs Dunne. If we could just quieten it down a bit, thank you.
MRS DUNNE: Mrs Dunne is having trouble hearing herself, which is pretty unusual.
MR SPEAKER: You are free to continue, Mrs Dunne.
MRS DUNNE: More importantly, with a better financial foundation, I am even more amazed by the opportunities that would present themselves to the orchestra and to our city. Let me mention just some of the opportunities that come to mind. We could have a full-time orchestra; a closer collaboration with the ANU School of Music, including the provision of part-time teachers, master classes, student fellowships, internships and mentoring programs; regional concerts; commercial recordings; a more extensive and diverse concert program; more community-based activities and events; audience development programs; and more intensive music programs in a broader range of schools. All of these opportunities are possible, but not with the orchestra’s current structure and funding.
Let us look by contrast to the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. According to its 2011 annual report, the TSO received funding of almost $8 million. Nearly $5.9 million of that came from the commonwealth, with the state contributing most of the balance, nearly $2 million. This represents some 75 per cent of the TSO’s total revenue for 2011. The TSO’s funding enables it to employ a full-time professional orchestra that gives over 60 concerts each year throughout Tasmania, as well as nationally and overseas. It has over 60 CD recordings in its catalogue and is heard nationally and internationally on radio and through webstreaming.
And what about the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra? Its 2011 annual report tells us that it receives $6.2 million of commonwealth funding and $1.6 million from the state government. This represents nearly 64 per cent of its total revenue. The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra gives more than 100 concert performances each year, and that increased number of performances helps it out-perform the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in ticket sales. This, of course, helps keep down the proportion of government funding in its overall funding. Nonetheless, the need for government funding is no less important, because it allows the orchestra to do much more than mere ticket sales would allow. Like the TSO, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra has an extensive recording catalogue as well as national and international tours. It has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York, one of the most prestigious concert halls in the world. Both orchestras, of course, have busy community programs, including in schools.
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