Page 3514 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 22 October 2014
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thinks she wanted a debate and some intellectual engagement on this, but I am not sure she is up to it, Madam Speaker. And from her actions you can see that. Where you take away funding from ArtSound, a valuable group for the community who rely on the radio, what you have is a dumbing down of the arts in the ACT. (Time expired.)
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Disability, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Racing and Gaming, Minister for Women and Minister for the Arts) (6.09): I am delighted to talk on arts and to take the opportunity to speak about the growth and development of the arts sector in the ACT under this government. Quite contrary to Mr Smyth’s assertion, our arts community is thriving.
This year the government has provided $8.5 million in funding to a wide range of artists, organisations and facilities that support the development of arts and provide countless opportunities for the community to engage with arts. This funding is critical to the development of arts, and I am pleased to report that it has delivered strong outcomes against the arts policy framework.
The shadow minister referred to key arts organisations, but I am pleased to inform members that 20 key arts organisations are supported in the ACT across circus, dance, music, literature, theatre and visual arts to the tune of around $4 million a year. These organisations provide a diverse range of opportunities for the community to access and participate in all aspects of the arts. Importantly, these organisations nurture and support individual artists by providing critical infrastructure, studios to develop their works, performance space, rehearsal and performance areas, and galleries and shops not only to display their works but to sell them. In 2013 alone $1.7 million was returned through this program as income directly to artists or for artist activity.
Mr Smyth made great comment about the removal of ArtSound FM from key arts organisation status. In case he is ill informed on this, I inform him that the key arts organisation round of grants are peer assessed—that is, peer assessed by those with high standing and of high regard in the community. The peer panel for ArtSound’s application was, for Mr Smyth’s interest, Ms Philippa Buining, a theatre producer, Tobias Cole, an internationally renowned countertenor with Opera Australia, Julie Dyson, the National Director of Ausdance, Rafe Morris, a musician, Barbara McConchie, a visual artist from the ANU School of Art, and Melanie Tait, a local broadcaster and playwright. Peer assessed—it is not me with a pen, as Mr Smyth would have it if he had his way, writing key arts organisation funding. This was a peer assessment; a rigorous independent process made those decisions around ArtSound.
I would like to talk about another key arts organisation—that is, Megalo. Based at Kingston, Megalo not only provides a working space for local printmakers, but it is a space where members of the public can come in off the street and work with artists of national or international significance. Since its move to Kingston, supported by the government, Megalo has undergone some impressive transformation. Gallery visitors and membership have just about doubled. Last year alone Megalo provided over 10,000 hours of studio access for artists. I am very pleased that the board of management and staff and members of Megalo have confirmed that they wish to stay in their current premises.
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