The Australian Federal government’s arts funding cuts are now taking effect, seeing 62 previously funded organisations lose their support from The Australia Council, while over half the applicants for funding this year were turned down.
Losing $60 million in funding over four years after the cuts from last year came into effect, The Australia Council has left many in the industry at a loss at what to do next after the devastating news was revealed today.
The government has simultaneously, and controversially, doubled the budget of their own Catalyst program which will see the Arts Ministry directly funding projects.
The council has announced $112 million in funding over four years for 128 small and medium arts groups, but there but there are dozens of organisations that will miss out. Live Performance Australia’s Evelyn Richardson told Radio National these cuts will dramatically affect career opportunities for live performance in Australia, predicted job losses and an exodus of talent.
“We’re very concerned, and not just for small to medium companies, but that this will have flow-on effects right across our industry to our major companies, to our commercial companies,” she explained.
“We’re particularly concerned about losing our creative and technical talent who may be forced to go offshore for work or career development opportunities.”
Australia Council CEO Tony Grybowski was understanding of the hard road ahead, while offering support in various form for the industry, while remaining carefully vague.
“While celebrating the success of the companies forming the new cohort, the council acknowledges that the outcomes of this highly competitive process will be difficult for some companies and is committed to supporting the sector through this period of change,” he said.
“This support will take various forms, responding to the different needs of both individual organisations and practice areas.”
Let’s hope that isn’t just smoke.
