Sydney multi-arts centre Carriageworks is set to reopen after being placed into voluntary administration at the beginning of May, after standing down almost half its staff in April. The venue, which cited “an irreparable loss of income” as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, has now been given a multimillion dollar lifeline thanks to a group of philanthropists.

Carriageworks

“We are delighted with this outcome,” said Minister for the Arts Don Harwin, who has been reinstated to the arts portfolio after a court decision cleared him of breaching COVID-19 restrictions in April. “We would like to thank the wonderful donors Geoff Ainsworth and wife Johanna Featherstone, Kerr Neilson, Michael Gonski and The Packer Family Foundation who have so generously contributed to the continuing future of Carriageworks.”

“At the heart of it, we are excited for the resident companies of Carriageworks who will also greatly benefit from this announcement,” Harwin said.

Resident companies at Carriageworks include Contemporary Asian Australian Performance, Erth, Felix Media, Force Majeure, Marrugeku, Moogahlin Performing Arts, Performance Space and Sydney Chamber Opera.

While details are yet to be finalised, and no date has been set for the reopening, the NSW government has...