Small instistitutions win big
BalletLab received $50,000 from Arts Victoria and its general manager Amelia Bartak said the investment was a great chance for BalletLab to unlock its potential.
BalletLab is based in Southbank and is a niche ballet studio set up by Phillip Adams in 1998. Over the course of the last 15 years it has established itself as a vital part of Australia’s dance and performance community.
“We have been incredibly fortunate to receive this annually since 2010 and it has enabled us to employ a part-time producer and artistic director as well as pay the office rent,” Ms Bartak said.
“We have worked hard to match this funding, annually raising another $5-$7 for every $1 dollar to make the works we do.”
The next year will be an exciting time for BalletLab including taking shows to Europe, plus further perfomances at Malthouse Theatre and an extension of its masterclass and schools workshops.
“All of this activity is seeded through our Arts Victoria grant, also supported by the Federal Government through The Australia Council for the Arts, and we raise further investment through philanthropic trusts and foundations plus a wonderful group of private donors,” Ms Bartak said.
BalletLab isn’t the only Southbank-based group to benefit from the grants, with new Southbank resident Platform Youth Theatre receiving $45,000. A spokesperson said the money was core funding and would greatly assist the day-to-day running of the theatre group.