01 Sep 2011
Creative New Zealand’s decision on funding outcomes for the country’s arts organisations has been released today. Dunedin’s Fortune Theatre has secured funding for the next two years under CNZ’s Kahikatea programme. This result recognised the progress the Fortune had made in terms of its management and governance in the last 2 years but signalled that cementing those improvements in over the next two years was critical before the Theatre could be considered for inclusion in the Totara (Leadership) funding programme in the future.
While the Fortune has not secured a place in the Totara programme, the practical reality is that it is “business as usual” for the Fortune. The Fortune’s core funding will actually increase slightly in 2012 before reducing by 4% in 2013. “This is a positive result for the Fortune. We have made great strides in the last 18 months and the security of another two years funding gives us the opportunity to consolidate that progress and show that the Fortune is worthy of a place in the vanguard of New Zealand professional theatre,” Board Chairman, Peter Brown, said. “We have to earn that place and it is up to us, and our community, to show that a viable professional theatre can thrive in this part of the world.”
Mr Brown acknowledged the strong support received from Creative New Zealand and the Fortune’s other key funding stakeholders, the Dunedin City Council and Otago Community Trust. “Without that support we would not have been able to change our management structure and bring in a new Artistic Director, both actions that have resulted in a steady improvement in the Fortune’s performance since the beginning of 2010. The Fortune remains committed to presenting the highest quality professional theatre to our audiences.”
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