Sunday, June 21, 2015

Free the Arts from politicisation

NATIONAL ARTS GATHERING CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE HALT TO NPEA
MEDIA RELEASE
Please click on this link:
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a34575c9cbdc8e3c854d2f853/files/Media_Release_NATIONAL_ARTS_GATHERING_CALLS_FOR_IMMEDIATE_HALT_TO_NPEA.pdf?utm_source=BAC+Subscribers&utm_campaign=e28eebbecb-Free+the+Arts&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fd1e646edb-e28eebbecb-26970529
Email received from Daniel Ballantyne

Subject: Free the Arts




Dear supporter of the arts,


The May Federal Budget saw $105 million removed from the Australia Council for the Arts. We are now asking for your support to reverse this decision made by the Minister for the Arts, Senator George Brandis.

This decision will have a profound effect on the future of small to medium arts companies, independent artists, the community cultural development sector and wider Australia, especially at the community and grass roots level.

This decision was made without warning, and certainly not following consultation, it jeopardises the 40 year consensus built around the principle of independent, arms-length and peer based decision making when allocating arts funding. The effect of this decision is divisive, pitching our major arts companies who have their funding quarantined against the small to medium and independent sector through the establishment of a new ministerially overseen bureaucracy, the so called National Programme for Excellence in the Arts, to which all can apply. In fact all of the arts and cultural organisations and independent artists need each other in our highly inter connected industry.

The impact of Senator George Brandis’s decision has been immediate in that the Australia Council has had its discretionary funding capacity cut by over a quarter and that major funding programs to which Belconnen Arts Centre amongst many other arts and cultural organisations have applied, have now, been stopped.

Please read the attached Media Release arising from a peak meeting at Parliament House of arts organisations and independent artists from across Australia.

We have a simple but vital request of you as a supporter. We need you to write letters couched in your own words asking for the Minister for the Arts decision to be reversed and why you think it is essential. We recommend you keep it short and direct, we have been advised that templates are to be avoided and for impact it is important that you post a hard copy.

Please write and post your hard copy letters to the following:

The Prime Minister the Hon. Tony Abbott, MP
The Minister for Arts the Hon. George Brandis, Senator
The Minister Representing the Minister for the Arts in the House of Representatives, the Hon. Julie Bishop MP
Any further members of the Liberal National Party Coalition Government

For a complete list of Senators and Members please click here

Address your letters to
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

To follow the campaign, see the Free the Arts Facebook page. You can also hear a radio interview with Fran Kelly and Jade Lillie (Footscray Community Arts Centre).

I thank you for your important work and please let me know by return e-mail what letters you have sent.

Kind regards,


Daniel Ballantyne
CEO
Belconnen Arts Centre

118 Emu Bank BELCONNEN ACT
PO Box 183 BELCONNEN ACT 2616
p. 02 6173 3302
m. 0407 289 604
w. belconnenartscentre.com.au 
w. ccinclusion.com
 




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Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen, ACT
Gallery hours: 10:00am�4:00pm Tuesday�Su�Sunday
info@belconnenartscentre.com.au, 6173 3300
www.belconnenartscentre.com.au
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Posted by Frank McKone, 21 June 2015