Page 4237 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 21 September 2011
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(f) the multiple reports into arts and live music in Canberra, and the lack of substantive Government action in response to these reports; and
(g) the Government’s lack of action to address the shortage of purpose built venues for dance rehearsal and performance in Canberra;”.
(2) Add 3(d) to (i):
“(d) make public the recommendations of the live music inter-directorate committee;
(e) report back to the Assembly within six months on the progress of the implementation of the Government’s responses to both the Loxton report and the inquiry into Live Community Events;
(f) refocus the proposed scoping study for the performing arts hub to also address the lack of purpose built venues for dance rehearsal and performance in Canberra;
(g) revisit order-of-occupancy issues with regard to the friction between residential planning and live music venues;
(h) make public a comprehensive chronology of the decision-making processes and public consultations that resulted in the Government’s current policy regarding the proposed use of the Fitters Workshop; and
(i) explore options for the multi-use of the Fitters Workshop which include alternative accommodations for Megalo in the Kingston Arts Precinct.”.
I have moved these amendments because, quite frankly, Dr Bourke’s motion is admirable, but it is not very ambitious. I think art is more important and that we can do a lot better than Dr Bourke’s motion. It is not that I disagree with Dr Bourke’s motion—as you can see, I am adding, not subtracting.
I certainly agree with him that the arts sector makes a valuable contribution to the Canberra community and that government funding is important. There has been some commitment to simplifying and streamlining access for local artists and community arts organisations. I do not think the organisations would feel there has been the same level the government feels, but it is going to be really interesting to see how we go with the arts hubs in the ACT as to whether or not they build on synergies and facilitate the sharing of administration or whether we will have bunches of admin that work and then organisations bereft of any administrative support.
I think we can all agree that Canberra is very lucky in its artistic and cultural life. I understand figures from the ABS recently showed that we had the most money spent on cultural and artistic facilities, and ACT residents have repeatedly been shown in surveys to be more likely to go to artistic and cultural events than people in other parts of Australia. All of that is great.
As I said, I am not arguing against anything that Dr Bourke said, but the government focuses too much on, as it were, the formal, classical part of arts and not enough on
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