Dance Hub SA

206 The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) ().1 December 2022). Can the Minister for Arts advise:

Why has funding to Dance Hub SA been cut, and will the government reconsider this decision and reinstate the funding?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Minister for Arts has advised:

Dance Hub SA applied for multi-year funding of $200,298 per annum through Arts South Australia's Arts Organisations Program for the period 2023 to 2026. The Arts Organisations Program supports a diverse portfolio of small-to-medium organisations that contribute to a thriving arts and culture sector in South Australia.

A panel of peers from the South Australian arts and cultural sector evaluated the 35 applications to the program for 2023 to 2026 funding based on predetermined, published criteria. Peer assessment against these criteria forms the basis of recommendations for the delivery of Arts South Australia grants across the arts sector. The peer panel determined that Dance Hub SA did not sufficiently meet the program's purpose, goals, and assessment criteria and, consequently, four-year funding was not recommended by the panel.

Arts South Australia is working with Dance Hub SA to negotiate a funding package to assist its transition out of the Arts Organisation Program.

Additionally, Arts South Australia will continue to work with the South Australian dance sector to explore and identify a new dance initiative. The government's efforts to support the sector will include proposed access to the studio space at the Lion Arts Centre.