Resident companies speak up for struggling Carriageworks

Dalisa Pigram and Josh Mu in Marrugeku’s Cut the Sky at the 2016 Sydney Festival.

The eight resident companies of Carriageworks have warned of a “profound and far-reaching impact” on Australian cultural life if the multi-arts venue cannot find a way to rebuild.

Carriageworks called in administrators earlier this month following the sustained effects of cancellations across six months of activities. The venue, which opened in inner-city Eveleigh in 2007 and generated some 75 per cent of its revenue from non-government sources, was facing an “irreparable loss of income” due to restrictions on public gatherings.

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As well as hosting major events such as the Sydney Writers’s Festival, Fashion Week and the Sydney Festival, Carriageworks is also home to eight small arts companies: Contemporary Asian Australian Performance, Erth, Felix Media, Force Majeure, Marrugeku, Moogahlin Performing Arts, Performance Space and Sydney Chamber Opera.

Carriageworks appointed administrators on May 4. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty.

Those eight companies released a joint statement on Tuesday, saying they were “deeply concerned” about the appointment of administrators and promising to work with both Carriageworks and the NSW Government to find a way forward.

The companies call on the government to “ensure a stronger, independent and more resilient organisation emerges from the process of voluntary administration.”

“The founding vision for Carriageworks to be a world leading contemporary performing arts centre urgently needs increased resourcing,” they said. “Its distinctive financial model supporting both the not-for-profit and commercial arts sectors sets a unique example. At the same time this requires a finely tuned balance to maintain vital support for our local and national arts ecology.”

As creditors circle the company, the Sydney Opera House has been asked by the state government to consult on the venue’s long-term sustainability and at least one prominent philanthropist has offered to step in to help.

Jane Sheldon, Brenton Spiteri, Jeremy Kleeman in Oscar and Lucinda, a 2019 production by the Sydney Chamber Opera. Picture: Zan Wimberley.

In their statement, the resident companies described themselves as the “artistic heart and soul” of the building.

“Our partnerships with Carriageworks are paramount to our successes individually and collectively,” they said.

“This exceptional arts centre needs to be adequately supported to be set up to succeed rather than the bleak alternative. To do otherwise would risk a profound and far-reaching impact on the ecology of the arts sector and be of great detriment to the community that it has fostered. These are extraordinarily difficult times for all Australians but it is well documented that our artists and the arts are taking some of the hardest hits. We acknowledge that state and federal governments have the unenviable task of providing support and rescue packages for us to survive so that we can thrive again one day.

KPMG’s Phil Quinlan and Morgan Kelly were appointed voluntary administrators of Carriageworks Limited, which held its first meeting of creditors on May 14. A detailed report on the company’s future will be sent to all creditors early next month.

Carriageworks boss Blair French has said he hopes to be able to reopen the venue once the state emerges from the pandemic. The venue’s 2018 financial report revealed a bottom line loss of $559,236 with net negative equity of $545,078. Commercial events generated $3,955,625, while other income included government grants ($3,463,797), box office ($1,552,995) and farmers markets ($1,113,295.)