Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has received $2 million, while Sydney Theatre Company has received $2.7 million from the federal government’s Sustainability Fund, established to provide support to significant major arts organisations in danger of not being able to survive the pandemic.

The grants were part of $6.2 million provided to five arts companies, who were the latest recipients to receive support from the $50 million fund. The Australian Ballet School received $606,000, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra received $435,000 and Circa Contemporary Circus received $500,000.

Helen Thomson and Jacek Koman with cast members of Death of a Salesman, Sydney Theatre Company, 2021. Photo © Prudence Upton

More than $43 million has now been allocated, with Opera Australia receiving $10 million from the fund from in May, July and August, 2021.

In order to quality, arts organisations need to show they face insolvency within the next 12 months. MSO received $2 million in the latest round of grants despite posting a $1.5 million surplus for 2020, thanks in large part to JobKeeper. However, the orchestra was projecting a $2 million loss for 2021, which has been compounded by the latest Victorian...