Circus Oz, Design Tasmania and Opera Australia are the newest recipients of grants from the Federal Government’s Arts Sustainability Fund, sharing in $5.5 million. Opera Australia has been granted $5 million of this latest funding, on top of the $5 million it has already received since May 2021.

A promotional image for Opera Australia’s production of the Ring Cycle. Image supplied.

The latest relief funding comes in the wake of the postponement of the Brisbane Ring Cycle, which itself came shortly after the postponement of The Phantom of the Opera and the cancellation of the entire Sydney winter season.

Opera Australia has now received $10 million of the $50 million set aside for the Sustainability Fund.

Federal Arts minister Paul Fletcher said that this funding was specifically aimed at large employers, to “make sure they are still in operation and ready to deliver world-class performances to audiences across Australia, when we emerge from the pandemic”.

Separately, Create NSW has received an overwhelming number of applications for immediate support for cancelled performances through the $75 million NSW Performing Arts COVID Support Package, which was announced in...