The Australian: Fed Labor An Arts Disappointment?
Posted by savevca1 on April 11th, 2010
Respected arts journalist Michaela Boland of The Australian suggests the hope placed in Kevin 07 in terms of support for the arts, was perhaps misplaced.
The article published 10/04/10 shows anger is rife amongst the arts industry – the traditional Labor heartland, with everyone from Melbourne Theatre Company to Sydney’s Company B Belvoir frustrated with both Federal Arts Minister Garrett and PM Rudd.
THE FEDERAL GOVT & VCA
In terms of VCA, the Arts Minister (Garrett) and Education Minister (Gillard) have never met with SAVE VCA. Indeed the only input from the Federal Government has been been two passing comments – Gillard suggesting the University of Melbourne was “doing its best” and the second by Garrett saying “It’s [VCA] not something that is specifically funded through me and I don’t anticipate it being something that I’ll be funding” ( ABC Radio National 04/10/09) in reference to funding VCA like NIDA through the Arts Ministry (instead of through the Education Ministry / University system). However, we cant forget that VCA’s financial situation is because of changes to the cluster funding system inacted by the Liberal Howard Government.
Nevertheless the disinterest of the Rudd Government, particularly Garrett, is in stark contrast to Garrett’s fierce defence of VCA when in Opposition. KRudd’s chummy relationship with Melbourne University Vice Chancellor Glyn Davis is also hard to swallow.
The Federal Opposition have expressed no interest publicly in VCA to date.
THE STATE GOVT & VCA
On a state level, things are very different. The Liberal Opposition have already put $6m annually in new funding on the table for VCA should they win this year’s election and threatened demerger from the University. The Vic Greens have also been tireless in their attempts to gain information on VCA’s behalf (from everything to why Uni Melb is charging VCA rent to why the Review Committee composition is so obviously biased). Both The Greens and The Liberals attended and spoke at the SAVE VCA Week Rally.
The current Victorian (Labor) Government has met with SAVE VCA, however have not unveiled any official policy or funding offer to date. Sadly Premier Brumby has suggested VCA is solely a Commonwealth problem. However, we have high hopes for new Arts Minister Batchelor and we hope the current Victorian Government will push their Federal counterparts for Arts Ministry funding for VCA (and hence independence from the University of Melbourne). We also hope the Victorian Government will take a more active approach in enforcing the merger Heads of Agreement that was supposed to protect VCA from the damage Melbourne University has inflicted.
With both a Federal and Victorian State election this year, will the Government’s arts record affect your vote? Post you thoughts below.
Consider also the detriment to the arts caused by Labor’s ‘one size fits all’ approach to liquor licencing regulations at music and performing arts venues and, yes, ‘arts’ is a big issue in the upcoming election for me.