About Us
Blood Wedding, Malthouse Theatre Photo: Garth Oriander
AMPAG, as the representative body of Australia’s 28 major performing arts companies, gives its member companies a national voice and presence. It was formed in 1999 because the companies saw a critical need to work together on policy issues across their art forms including ones which affect artistic quality and cost/revenue dynamics.
AMPAG’s mission is to promote awareness of the contribution of major performing arts to the community and to ensure that these companies are adequately supported by the government. By doing so, AMPAG helps guarantee their long-term success and their accessibility to all Australians.
AMPAG’s work
AMPAG’s work includes:
- working with government authorities and other organisations to improve and extend performing arts support in Australia
- devising relevant and strategic policies on issues that affect performing arts in Australia
- preparing submissions to government inquiries and reviews on behalf of member companies
- conducting an annual survey of sponsorship and donations to the major performing arts companies
- creating a forum for company leaders to discuss shared issues
- investigating the opportunities of digital technology for the performing arts
- speaking at public forums on current issues relating to the performing arts
- salary surveys within the performing arts sector.
The importance of government subsidy
Government subsidy provides a base from which companies can leverage other support. Find out more at stretching government funding.
Government subsidy is as little as 15 per cent in some member companies and across AMPAG's 28 member companies constitutes just over one-third of revenue.
See:
Sources of Income 2010 (929 KB)
Performing arts companies’ revenue
- box office – the major generator of revenue
- government subsidy
- corporate sponsorship
- philanthropic donations
- commercial activities.