The Origins of Live Performance Subsidy in Australia, 1949-1975 (2020-2022)
Abstract
This project aims to investigate the origins of live performance subsidy in Australia between 1949 and 1975, through the case study of the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust. Its significance lies in challenging the accepted narrative that all Australian arts funding began with the Whitlam government. Expected outcomes of the project include scholarly publications and a policy paper, as well as public outputs such as a collection of digitised theatre scripts, staged reading performances and a podcast series. Through an enhanced understanding the pre-history of live performance subsidy in Australia, the project's potential benefits include a reconfigured perspective on cultural history that strengthens the model of Australian arts funding.
