2019 Budget - Small steps for the arts but we need big leaps.
Ausdance National welcomes the Morrison government’s new funding support for the live music sector ($30.9 million) and individual projects for the Bundanon Trust Art Centre, the Griffin Theatre and support for art installations in the Huon Valley. This represents significant investment but overall, the budget reflects a lack of understanding of the value of arts and culture and the contribution of the sector to Australia’s GDP.
We recognise the government is focused on supporting economic growth and opportunity, in addition to job creation. The budget reflects the ongoing lack of long term national cultural policy given that the arts sector generates significant primary and secondary employment. It ignores the research indicating that the future of work will be characterised by human creativity and innovation[1].
The new funding for live music creates opportunity for Australian artists and is a small step but not the significant leap needed for meaningful reform and investment to address key gaps and challenges across the whole sector.
Dance is a vital part of Australia’s performing arts ecology. It is valued by all cultures as a way of expressing feelings, thoughts, and storytelling through movement. Dance has capacity to be a valued part of every person’s education, offering creativity, healthy and stimulating experiences for all Australians throughout their lives. Arts engagement in education leads to enhanced learning outcomes and equips students with 21st Century skills for effectively managing the rapidly changing environment including the future world of work.
Ausdance and an alliance of performing arts peak organisations[2], have been advocating the following shared sector priorities including:
- Establish a National Indigenous Arts and Cultural Authority to provide leadership and representation for traditional knowledge and cultural expression and in recognition of the important links between art and culture and Closing the Gap outcomes.
- Support innovation through strategic seed investment in new ambitious works generating jobs growth and career development for leading creatives, new IP and extending creative skills.
- Position more multi-year funded companies for growth to deliver a stronger and more diverse performing arts sector.
- Increase Australia Council project funding to support individual artists and reduce the level of unfunded excellence
- Increase investment in regional performing arts engagement and touring.
- Remove the efficiency dividend on government arts and cultural organisations, including the Australia Council, which has had a perverse impact on funds available for investment in arts and culture.
The arts can assist us to respond to the 21st Century economic landscape and inspires innovation, new practices and services, and is a means of social engagement. Jobs requiring creativity, innovation, and social intelligence will be priorities across all industries – not just the arts.
More than ever before, Australia needs to foster and invest in creativity, arts and culture to respond to the challenges and opportunities ahead by embedding the arts in building better economic, education, and health and wellbeing outcomes for all Australians.
For enquires contact Kathy Bayktich, Executive Director, on M: 0414 698 228 or E: [email protected]
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[1]https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-future-of-jobs-report-2018
[2]AMPAG (Australian Major Performing Arts Group), Ausdance National, BlakDance, Live Performance Australia, Music Australia, Performing Arts Connections Australia, Regional Arts Australia, Symphony Services Australia, Theatre Network Australia.