Brisbane's La Boite Theatre secures funding through national partnership

Australia’s oldest continuing theatre company, Queensland’s La Boite Theatre has secured funding through the National Performing Arts Framework (NPAF) through a joint agreement between the Queensland and Federal Governments.

Set to celebrate its 100th year in 2025, the funding outcome is expected to provide La Boite with increased stability, leveraging Queensland Government investment to access additional new Federal investment as it transitions from the federal government’s four-year Organisations Fund.

Administered by Creative Australia, the NPAPF is a tripartite agreement that supports nationally significant performing arts companies with combined, multi-year funding.

La Boite joins the Partnership Framework as the seventh Queensland partnership organisation, alongside Queensland Ballet, Opera Queensland, Queensland Theatre, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Circa and Dancenorth and one of two new entrants to the framework nationally.

Other Queensland arts organisations Circa and Dancenorth have also secured uplifts through the framework from 2025-2028 which, coupled with additional investment into La Boite, will grow Federal Government investment in Queensland arts companies by $590,000 per annum over the forward four years.

Housed in the Roundhouse Theatre in Brisbane’s Kelvin Grove, the country’s only purpose-built theatre-in-the round, La Boite plays a crucial role in the local and national theatre sector.

Led by Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer Courtney Stewart, La Boite presents bold new work through an annual program of theatre productions, touring and its HWY festival of new and developing work.

The company provides significant employment and career development for artists and arts workers and has been a springboard for many nationally and international renowned performers, directors, designers, writers and technicians.

Welcoming the funding, Adam Brunes, Chair of the La Boite Theatre Board, stated “(this is) a monumental occasion for La Boite - Australia’s oldest continuously running professional theatre company - to enter the National Performing Arts Partnership Framework on the eve of the organisation’s 100th anniversary.

“A century-old company is not just a business entity; it’s living testament to human ingenuity, ambition, determination, and the power of collective effort, for which the Queensland Government via Arts Queensland and the Australian Government via Creative Australia have been instrumental.”

“The confidence and security provided by this vital funding will ensure that La Boite is best positioned to make a significant cultural, social and economic contribution to the Australian community for another 100 years."

The NPAPF is a funding partnership between the Federal Government and each state and territory, providing the stability of four years of funding from 2025 to 2028 for each partnership organisation.

Other Queensland based NPAPF recipients include Queensland Opera, Queensland Theatre, Queensland Ballet, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Circa, and Dancenorth.

Images: La Boite Theatre's production of Snow White (top) and the company's Roundhouse Theatre home (below). Credit: La Boite Theatre.