Overview
Good (or just pretty good) news for the Australian arts community today. The federal government has once again redesigned its controversial arts funding scheme, following months of heavy campaigning by artists around the country. Communications and arts minister Mitch Fifield announced today that the widely maligned National Program for Excellence in the Arts (NPEA), which was introduced by his predecessor George Brandis with next to no consultation with the artistic community, will have its funding reduced by $32 million over four years, with the money instead being reallocated to the independent Australia Council — from whose budget it was originally cribbed. Top stuff.
The change comes after the government received significant pushback from artists and political opponents, who were outraged by the decision made under the Abbott government to redirect $104 million from the Australia Council to the newly created NPEA — a move many believed would prove fatal for small, independent arts groups. Calls were made for Turnbull to take over the troubled portfolio, and here we are.
Under this latest round of changes (and let's be honest here, there'll probably be more down the line), the NPEA budget will drop from $20 million a year to $12 million, with the savings being returned to the Australia Council. Brandis' brainchild will also be getting a brand spanking new name, going from the National Program for Excellence in the Arts to Catalyst - Australian Arts and Cultural Fund.
Yeah, it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue either, does it?
Now, while this definitely seems like a step in the right direction, don't start planning your celebratory interpretive dance show just yet. I'm no mathematician, but $32 million still seems like a lot less than $104 million. Let me just quickly check the numbers on that... yep, it's definitely less.
Moreover, despite the budget cut and the name change, it appears that Catalyst will still function in much the same way as the NPEA would have. Like they say, a rose by any other name. Although in this case, a rose probably isn't the best analogy.
Fifield is expected to announce further details regarding these changes later today. In the meantime, the National Association for the Visual Arts has issued a statement suggesting the fight is far from over. "We are relieved that the Minister is prepared to go some way towards alleviating the havoc being caused by the original decision of his predecessor," said NAVA Executive Director Tamara Winikoff. "However, the renamed Catalyst program is still being created at the expense of ensuring the survival of organisations that are the engine room for developing and presenting new Australian work."
Via SMH. Image: Chunky Move.