Major Performing Arts Inquiry Implementation Reference Committee
In December 1998, the Australian Government announced the establishment of the Major Performing Arts Inquiry. The inquiry’s final report, Securing the Future, was released in December 1999.
In August 2000, the Cultural Ministers Council reached agreement on each of the 95 recommendations in the report and endorsed the four key principles underpinning the report’s findings.
The Cultural Ministers Council also agreed to give the Major Performing Arts Board of the Australia Council the primary responsibility for implementing the recommendations in consultation with the state funding agencies and the companies.
The Cultural Ministers Council established an Implementation Reference Committee to monitor the implementation of the recommendations agreed by the Cultural Ministers Council and to provide a forum for stakeholders to exchange views.
The committee comprised representatives of the then Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (Chair), the Australia Council, a state representative and a representative of the Major Performing Arts Board.
In May 2002 and March 2003, the Cultural Ministers Council extended the Implementation Reference Committee’s term for a further 12 months. This allowed continued communication between the major performing arts sector, state and Australian Government funding agencies.
The Australian Government commissioned the Orchestras Review in 2004 in response to a recommendation made by the inquiry.
The Major Performing Arts Inquiry Implementation Reference Committee finalised its role in 2005 when the four-year implementation timeframe for the Major Performing Arts Inquiry ended. The Implementation Reference Committee completed its work and presented two reports to the Cultural Ministers Council Standing Committee meeting on 26 November 2004:
- Implementation Progress Report
- Report of the Funding Model Review
In August 2005, the Cultural Ministers Council established the Major Performing Arts Working Group to provide ongoing advice on issues impacting on the sustainability of major performing arts companies.