Government cuts the arts. Again.

Today we learnt that the federal government is taking $52.2 million from our arts and cultural institutions.

We're losing ground as well as money. Across the board commercial arguments are replacing cultural arguments. 

Almost $37 million will be taken away from Australian galleries and museums. But $47 million will be given to commercial Hollywood/US film studios. Yes, that’s right $47 million to support the Thor and Alien franchises. Then there’s the removal of parallel import restrictions on books. Advocates say that the mass import of lower-royalty and royalty-free editions means cheaper books for buyers—but what about the cost to local writers and publishers? Read the Australian Society of Authors POV on this here.

Funding US blockbusters creates a few opportunities for local actors, small roles and extras mostly, some technical jobs, and service jobs like film catering. Hmm. 

These studios and production houses trumpet their commercial, market-orientated credentials ... so why not let commerce prevail? Leave these megabudget US productions to market forces, and use our precious PUBLIC arts dollars to support local CREATORS. Imagine what we might do, the INNOVATIONS we might come up with, if that $47 million were used to support the work of local writers, directors, designers, musicians, curators and artists!

I worry that in a society determined and shaped almost solely by matters economic we’ll end up knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Noëlle

Furthermore:

Just when we were preparing a somewhat relieved post about the Turnbull Government returning (one third of) funds that the Abbott Government clawed away from the arts, and the Prime Minister's speech in praise of the arts at NIDA last week, comes the news of the decimation of 10 youth theatres, the abolition of the Australian Book Council, and yet more kneecapping of Screen Australia.

I don't get it.

In 2007 there were 21 youth arts organisations funded through the Australia Council. In 2012 there were 13. In 2015 there are 3. 

Some of us 7s had our start in youth theatre, along with probably 90% of professional theatre practitioners. It provided crucial training ground, a step between high school / uni and the industry. It was a place to experiment free of critical judgment, to forge relationships (I still count Paul Capsis as one of my dearest friends, and an ongoing collaborator - we met at Shopfront as teenagers). But whether involvement in youth theatre leads to a career in the arts is not the point. Youth theatre provides sanctuary for kids who don't fit in, who have something to say, who are thinkers and dreamers. It allows kids to develop social skills, to discover who they are, to connect. It tells them they are valuable, and have something to contribute. It helps them navigate the world at what is perhaps the most vulnerable age of one's lifetime.

Politicians will argue there's no money left. Well, it seems there's plenty to hand over to Hollywood. But meanwhile, if there are any philanthropists out there who care about young people, please consider getting in touch with the theatre companies listed below and helping them survive.

Hilary.

Backbone Youth Arts (QLD)

Canberra Youth Theatre (ACT)
Cirkidz (SA)
Courthouse Youth Arts (Geelong)
Outback Theatre For Young People (NSW)

Platform Youth Theatre (VIC)

Riverland Youth Theatre (SA)
Shopfront (NSW)*
Southern Edge Arts (WA)
Western Edge Arts (VIC)

*Clarification:

Shopfront wishes to clarify the funding support provided by ArtsNSW as it is unclear within the SMH article.

Shopfront has been fortunate to receive an increase in confirmed multiyear funding from ArtsNSW. Without the ongoing support of our State funding body our situation would be much worse.

The funding issues currently being experienced are related to the flow on effects of the May 2015 federal budget and projected losses in project funding from ArtsNSW as a result.

ArtsNSW have always provided exceptional support to Shopfront and to the Youth Arts sector in NSW.