State Theatre seeks to break free of govt
State Theatre's 2014 box-office record-breaking production The Importance of Being Earnest. Photo: Shane Reid
South Australia’s State Theatre Company is seeking to “move out from under the wing of government” by becoming a private not-for-profit company.
The State Theatre board was among 105 state boards and committees recommended for axing in a State Government audit released yesterday.
However, the way was already being paved for a change to the theatre company’s structure, with a study into the feasibility of it becoming a private not-for-profit company due to deliver its findings in November this year.
State Theatre CEO Rob Brookman stressed that it was not seeking to be privatised in a commercial sense, but rather to adopt the same structure as most of Australia’s other major performing arts companies – including Sydney Theatre Company, Opera Australia and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
“We feel that the time has come for State Theatre Company to move out from under the wing of Government,” he said.
“We should recognise that the current governance model is inappropriate at a time when arts companies have no choice but to be run as efficient and innovative businesses – while also pursuing their core purpose in delivering the highest quality in artistic results.”
Brookman said a change in structure was not expected to affect government funding for the company, which is contracted on a triennial basis as part of an agreement with the Australia Council for the Arts.
The State Theatre believes becoming a private not-for-profit company will create greater opportunities to develop private income streams, reduce some risk associated with government policy (such as workers’ compensation issues) and “free the company from a number of significant and often inappropriate bureaucratic requirements required of a government agency”.
“Moving to a private not-for-profit model will allow the company to be run in a more contemporary, business-focused and flexible manner,” Rob Brookman said.
The State Government audit recommendations aim to cut red tape and reduce duplication of functions, with other boards earmarked for abolition including the SA Tourism Commission Board, Lotteries Commission, Disability Arts Peer Assessment Panel and the Advanced Manufacturing Council.
