Jun 10, 2026 – 5.00amAfter more than two decades in the creative industries, Claire Spencer possesses the kind of hard-earned perspective that only comes from managing major cultural institutions through existential crises – such as steering hundreds of employees through the chaos of a global pandemic.Since COVID-19, the Australian Ballet has endured five consecutive years of annual losses, coupled with a three-year displacement from its home at the Melbourne State Theatre due to a $1.7 billion redevelopment.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Sam IrvineReporterSam Irvine is a journalist for The Australian Financial Review. Message Sam on Signal @samuelirvine00_.86Fetching latest articles