Arts funding changes a good first step – but more needed
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance welcomes today’s partial reversal by the Turnbull Government of the cuts to the Australia Council’s budget and the willingness of the new Arts Minister Mitch Fifield to consult with the sector.
But more information is also required about how the Catalyst Australian Arts and Culture Fund will operate to allay concerns about key funding decisions coming out of the office of the Arts Minister.
MEAA chief executive officer Paul Murphy said the partial restoration of Australia Council funding and the rebadging of the National Program for Excellence in the Arts showed that Senator Fifield had listened to concerns from the arts sector.
But he said the overall cut to arts funding would still have a significant impact on individual artists and small, independent arts organisations that was yet to be fully realised.
“Unlike his predecessor, Senator Fifield has consulted widely and taken on board many of the concerns of the arts sector,” Mr Murphy said.
“Having taken some positive steps, we would urge the government not to close the door on fully restoring funding to the Australia Council and to Screen Australia, which has also had more than $40 million cut from its budget over four years.
“In the meantime, more detail is needed about how the new funding guidelines will operate, and we will seek to meet with the Minister to discuss the Catalyst program.
“The changes announced today could not have happened without the lobbying and campaigning of the arts community since the federal Budget.
“More than 12,000 people signed an open letter opposing the cuts to the Australia Council funding, and hundreds have written to Senator Fifield since his appointment.
“The volume of more than 2000 submissions to the Senate inquiry into arts funding was another indicator of the unrest the Australia Council cuts had caused.
“What this shows is that the Australian public genuinely care about funding for a viable and independent arts sector.”
Arts funding changes a good first step – but more needed
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance welcomes today’s partial reversal by the Turnbull Government of the cuts to the Australia Council’s budget and the willingness of the new Arts Minister Mitch Fifield to consult with the sector.
Last update: November 21, 2015
