In Friday’s (5/3) Australian (Sydney), Matthew Westwood writes, “A review panel charged with finding a sustainable business model for Orchestra Victoria has been sent back to the drawing board. A four-member panel headed by former Victorian MP Lorraine Elliott was convened by the Australia Council and Arts Victoria to find a solution for the troubled orchestra, which has had five years of deficits. OV is the Melbourne pit orchestra for Opera Australia, the Australian Ballet, Victorian Opera and the Production Company. To stay afloat it has cancelled unprofitable concerts and shed staff. Musicians have agreed to a reduced salary increase. The panel was due to report by last March, with a new business model to be in place by next year. The terms of reference made clear there would be no extra funding. But the Australia Council’s Tony Grybowski says the federal funding body has not accepted the panel’s preliminary report. … OV’s federal and state funding partners sent the panel back to consider all options for the orchestra, Grybowski says … OV chairman Tony Osmond, who has not seen the report, says the orchestra will need its new business model by July so it can plan for 2014. He says the orchestra is working towards a balanced budget this year.”
Posted May 6, 2013
