The Victorian College of the Arts has received an early Christmas present after the state and federal governments pledged to help “restore” funding.
The Victorian Government will provide a one-off $3 million injection to be used as seed funding for a foundation trust ($2 million) and new equipment and facility upgrades ($1 million).
And Federal Labor will match the funding provided to the foundation trust and assist further with $5.1 million annually to the internationally-renowned college if re-elected later this month.
Funding, on top of staff and course cuts, has been an ongoing issue for the school, since it was cut five years ago. The VCA recently conducted a review, which recommended several changes, prompting the resignation of the Dean.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said there was a need for the federal government to step in and VCA’s future needed to be “secure”.
“This is a great day for the VCA and demonstrates the Commonwealth, State and University commitment to create a bright and sustainable future for the VCA,” Premier John Brumby said today in a statement.
“The VCA makes a significant contribution to the education of our state’s artists and these announcements provide certainty around the future of the VCA,”
Australians hit the polls August 21.