PUSH FOR MORE EQUITABLE ARTS FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS

Arts Minister Rod Welford will be pushing for more equitable arts funding arrangements between the Federal and State Governments at a meeting of Arts Ministers in New Zealand tomorrow (22 September).

Mr Welford is attending the meeting of the Cultural Ministers’ Council (CMC) in Wellington tomorrow to discuss issues relating to the development of arts and culture in Australia and New Zealand.

“This is an opportunity for the States to push for more transparent and equitable arts funding arrangements between the Commonwealth and the States,” Mr Welford said.

“Too often we see the majority of Commonwealth arts funding go to organisations based in Sydney and Melbourne.

“The Commonwealth needs to acknowledge that the demographic, economic and cultural centres of Australia are shifting and disbursing throughout the country.

“We now have a diversity of arts practice and emerging areas of expertise that are happening outside our major capital cities.

“The ad hoc approach to arts funding by the Commonwealth must come to an end.

“What I am proposing is the development of a set of protocols for a national approach to arts and cultural policy development and funding.

“This will ensure that arts funding programs are more responsive to the changing patterns of Australian society.”

Other issues to be discussed at the forum include the implementation of the Orchestras Review, evaluation of the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy program, Indigenous arts and culture and a national review of performing arts touring.

The Cultural Ministers’ Council is the Ministerial forum for the exchange of views on issues affecting cultural activities in Australia and New Zealand.

It is comprised of Commonwealth, State, Territory and New Zealand Ministers with responsibility for the arts.

The CMC last met in August 2005 in Cairns.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000 or 0419 734 985