The Federal Government has announced that it will provide an additional $125 million for the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) fund. The initial RISE fund of $75 million was part of a $250 million rescue package of grants and loans announced by the Government in June, 2020, in the wake of the COVID-19 shutdowns.

Melbourne Theatre Company’s ghost light in 2020. Photo © Melbourne Theatre Company

Recipients of RISE funding so far include the Canberra International Music Festival, Australian Haydn Ensemble, Australian Theatre for Young People, Darlinghurst Theatre Company, Michael Cassel Group, Circa, Queensland Music Festival, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, UKARIA, the Australian National Academy of Music, The Australian Ballet, Melbourne Theatre Company, Melbourne Opera and Melbourne Digital Concert Hall, West Australian Opera and more. The Government has said this new funding will support around 230 projects and up to 90,000 jobs.

The boost to the RISE funding, which was already under fire for a sluggish rollout and opaque decision-making processes, comes as the arts industry now faces the looming “cliff edge” of the...