Page 4113 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 26 November 2014
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“(c) artsACT is currently reviewing the Arts Policy Framework in line with commitments made in 2012, with the review to be completed in 2015; and”.
(2) Omit paragraph (2), substitute:
“(2) calls on the Minister for the Arts to update the Assembly on the review of the Arts Policy Framework as soon as practicable following its completion in 2015.”.
I know it is late in the afternoon, but back to this motion: it seems that only a month ago we were in the same place with Mr Smyth asserting that the arts sector was somehow failing to develop and not thriving. Again, I thank him for the opportunity to come into the Assembly and talk about the strengths of our arts sector and the significant outcomes achieved by this government since the release of the framework in 2012.
The achievements may not matter to Mr Smyth, but I am certainly proud of them, such as: one of our filmmakers winning the short film award at the Toronto International Film Festival; the success of The Code on ABC TV, funded by ScreenACT; and our very own glam folk duo, Sparrow-Folk, selected to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. At last night’s ACT arts awards I understand that many of the winners made a point of thanking artsACT and ScreenACT for the support over the years which has helped them achieve national and international success.
The arts policy framework is just that, a framework. It reflects the government’s continuing commitment to the local arts sector, outlines our priorities and articulates the guiding vision, principles and activities that support these priorities. It is a living document, and the principles of the framework drive every decision that is made every day by artsACT about funding, about projects, about fundamental changes to the arts landscape.
Let me go to some of the questions that Mr Smyth claims have not been answered. Mr Smyth asked: was the ACT arts fund implemented and reviewed? Yes, it was, Mr Smyth. The ACT arts fund is an ongoing program—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ms Burch, address your comments through the chair, please.
MS BURCH: Through you, Madam Deputy Speaker, it was, Mr Smyth. The ACT arts fund is an ongoing program. Without it we could not have funded our key arts organisations or provided any grants to the artists. Mr Smyth also asked for a copy of the artists in residence policy. This is available on the artsACT website.
Mr Smyth asked for other policies to be tabled. If he were to check the artsACT website, he would also find the key arts organisation funding guidelines, the program organisation guidelines, the out-of-round guidelines, the project guidelines, the Llewellyn Hall fund guidelines—all of which are policies that sit underneath the arts policy framework. The framework guides the government’s policy on the arts and, as you can see, there is a substantial list of policies.
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