The Victorian government has finally committed to keeping the Australian National Academy of Music in Melbourne.

The future of the Australian National Academy of Music in Melbourne has been assured thanks to a new funding commitment from the Victorian Government. The elite music school has been based at the South Melbourne Town Hall for the last 20 years and has boasted graduates across Australia’s symphony orchestras.

The school’s 20-year lease with the City of Port Phillip is set to expire in 2017 and an increase in costs under the new lease agreement – many of which had been previously covered under an arrangement with the Victorian Government – had led the institution to investigate alternate options in Melbourne and interstate. Plans to extent ANAM’s lease had also met resistance from locals who objected to the music school’s presence in the community.

A report in the Port Phillip Leader in February had the school seeking a commitment of $386,000 per year from the Victorian government to keep them in Melbourne. Now, after months of uncertainty, the government has stepped in with a funding commitment of $1 million over six years, a marked increase on their previous commitment of $150,000 over three years – though still less than half of what ANAM was asking for in February. Nonetheless, this has ensured the school’s continued presence in South Melbourne.

“We are delighted that, following eight years of discussions, we have reached agreement with the State Government to partner with ANAM,” said General Manager Nick Bailey. “This ensures that we continue as the Melbourne-based leading Australian performance-training organisation. In particular, we welcome the partnership with the Department of Training and Skills, as it recognises that ANAM is training musicians for professional careers as performers, rather than providing a general musical education.”

“ANAM has faced escalating costs relating to additional rental to remain in Victoria, which has led us to consider future options for accommodation,” he said. “The State Government’s funding will ensure that we continue to offer the very highest quality of professional training for our exceptionally talented young musicians that will prepare them for careers in the profession, and it will provide us with the certainty to be able to remain in Victoria.”

The Victorian Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert announced the funding agreement. “As the cultural capital of Australia, it’s important that we house the best facilities for both world-class research and education in the performing arts to produce a highly trained workforce in music performance,” he said. “ANAM will build its links with the Victorian community and schools so that all Victorians can see the benefits of our investment in musical performance.”

The Minister for Creative Industries and Member for Albert Park Martin Foley commented. “ANAM is the jewel in our local cultural scene – as well as being a centre of national excellence. We look forward to continuing to build ANAM’s local links to further boost our creative state.” 

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