Recommendation 5.6: Governments should monitor outcomes to ensure that activities that are funded are delivered. Such an approach is consistent with the principle of accountability; and Governments rightfully have an expectation that if an activity is funded, it should be delivered. Recommendation 5.7: If a company does not deliver on funded activities, a proportion of the funding provided for that activity should be withheld from future grant payments unless a prior renegotiation has been agreed with the relevant Government funding agencies. Companies should not be funded for activities they do not deliver; Such an approach would encourage greater and earlier dialogue between the companies and the relevant Governments; and Such an approach strike a more appropriate balance between the flexibility suggested under Recommendation 5.4 and the need for increased accountability. Recommendation 5.8: If a company fails for three years in a row or consistently fails to deliver on a major commitment for which it is funded, it should lose its status as a major performing arts company. The company should receive one year’s advance notice (after the second year) of the funding agencies’ intention to change its status. Consistently failing to meet a stipulated funding requirement is a serious breach; and The ultimate penalty is loss of the privilege of being a major performing arts company. This would represent a change to the criteria for being a major performing arts company, which in the near term would apply only to the Major Opera Companies. Recommendation 5.9: Overall, the companies should remain subject to Government requirements to maintain specific overall financial and balance sheet requirements. Such an approach allows the companies to pursue their own strategic agenda while ensuring fiscal prudence; Such an approach is consistent with the overall requirements to become and remain a major performing arts company; and Additional rigour could be added to the overall approach by setting specific targets in relation to fiscal requirements. 5.4 What type of activities should be supported The approach articulated in Chapter 5.3 about Government funding necessitates that a decision be made in relation to what activities should be supported for Government funding.
Recommendation 5.6: Governments should monitor outcomes to ensure that activities that are funded are delivered. Such an approach is consistent with the principle of accountability; and Governments rightfully have an expectation that if an activity is funded, it should be delivered. Recommendation 5.7: If a company does not deliver on funded activities, a proportion of the funding provided for that activity should be withheld from future grant payments unless a prior renegotiation has been agreed with the relevant Government funding agencies. Companies should not be funded for activities they do not deliver; Such an approach would encourage greater and earlier dialogue between the companies and the relevant Governments; and Such an approach strike a more appropriate balance between the flexibility suggested under Recommendation 5.4 and the need for increased accountability. Recommendation 5.8: If a company fails for three years in a row or consistently fails to deliver on a major commitment for which it is funded, it should lose its status as a major performing arts company. The company should receive one year’s advance notice (after the second year) of the funding agencies’ intention to change its status. Consistently failing to meet a stipulated funding requirement is a serious breach; and The ultimate penalty is loss of the privilege of being a major performing arts company. This would represent a change to the criteria for being a major performing arts company, which in the near term would apply only to the Major Opera Companies. Recommendation 5.9: Overall, the companies should remain subject to Government requirements to maintain specific overall financial and balance sheet requirements. Such an approach allows the companies to pursue their own strategic agenda while ensuring fiscal prudence; Such an approach is consistent with the overall requirements to become and remain a major performing arts company; and Additional rigour could be added to the overall approach by setting specific targets in relation to fiscal requirements. 5.4 What type of activities should be supported The approach articulated in Chapter 5.3 about Government funding necessitates that a decision be made in relation to what activities should be supported for Government funding.
national_opera_review_final_report.docx