“We thought we had had the [funding] conversation. Now, it’s really explicit.”
Acting Artistic Director Greg Horsman said the company was looking towards finding a “guardian” for Queensland Ballet’s past and future.
“It’s important the rich heritage we’ve built up is not discarded. Not just starting again is important,” he said.
Queensland Ballet executive director Dilshani Weerasinghe says the “hustle” is contributing to arts executives resigning.Credit: Nick Dent
While Horsman has put his hand up for the permanent role, Weerasinghe said that the company was “a couple of months away” from making its decision.
She said that funding the company, including the Queensland Ballet Academy, was “a constant struggle”.
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Queensland Ballet’s 2023 annual report posted income of $27.2 million, of which $7 million came from government grants, $9.8 million from donations and sponsorship, and $10.3 million from ticket sales and other revenue.
She said that Queensland Ballet was “the least funded” state ballet company.
The company’s recent production Coco Chanel: The Life of a Fashion Icon sold out and exceeded its target by about $250,000, she said.