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Have your say in the National Cultural Policy

On 12 August the federal Minister for the Arts Simon Crean launched a discussion paper on the first national cultural policy since the Keating government.

In the proceeding seventeen years, the federal government had not developed a new cultural policy, and the former arts minister Peter Garrett undertook the task of closing the gaping hole.

Now that the much trumpeted paper has been released - what are the commentators and performing arts experts saying? The majority are supportive of the ideas and goals expressed within the document, but not sure that it will have any positive effect on the arts and cultural communities. The release of the discussion paper was not paired with funding announcements which has strengthened arguments that this is a broad strokes document that will have few benefits. However it is clear that the Minister for the Arts believes that money needs to be tied to the policy and has a desire to make this happen.

The goals in the discussion paper are:

Goal 1: To ensure that what the government supports – and how this support is provided – reflects the diversity of a 21st Century Australia, and protects and supports indigenous culture

Goal 2: To encourage the use of emerging technologies and new ideas that support the development of new artworks and the creative industries, and that enable more people to access and participate in arts and culture

Goal 3: To support excellence and world-class endeavour, and strengthen the role that the arts play in telling Australian stories both here and overseas

Goal 4: To increase and strengthen the capacity of the arts to contribute to our society and economy

At ‘We All Play a Part’ we believe that it is a worthwhile and necessary step to develop a policy which has clear objectives for the arts - especially the performing arts. The Minister has made it clear in many public statements that he is advocating for the arts communities to cross-pollinate their skill sets into many areas of government especially the NBN, the new national curriculum, international diplomacy and creative commerce. The completed policy should be the document we have in hand when arguing for funding increases and policy changes - e.g. taxation, social security, immigration - across all ministerial portfolios.

The more people who make a submission, the more it will be understood in Federal Government that the arts and culture are valued by and important to every Australian (even if they don't realise it). Politicians respond to volume! This is an historic moment - rarely do we have the opportunity to comment on a National Cultural Policy.

Some of the things you may want to think about are: 

• Why aren’t there more arts people on Government boards and advisory committees in the way that business people are on arts boards? The Minister has publicly stated that Australia needs creative and innovative people.
• In the way that we have elite sports people shouldn’t Australia be celebrating elite artists? There is very little about the need for that in the policy. There is an emphasis on mainstreaming which is important however as someone commented “No one ever asked Cathy Freeman to run slower”.
• We should be able to compete naturally on a world stage in our many identities and guises and not just “tell Australian stories” (as per Goal 3). In order to do this we need investment infrastructure to support touring, international skills development and export.
• According to the discussion paper, federal government investment in arts and culture amounts to $740 million - which is equivalent to 0.074% of our GDP. Surely over the duration of this policy we can encourage the government to increase this to 0.1%.

Have your say in the National Cultural Policy

The paper can be downloaded at http://culture.arts.gov.au and the government is accepting feedback on the policy up until Friday 21 October 2011.

To complete an anonymous survey or to make a formal submission go to: http://culture.arts.gov.au/have-your-say.

If you are making a submission we strongly suggest you also send this to:

• Your local Member of Parliament so that he/she is aware of the draft policy and the issues.

To search for your federal electorate go to Which federal electorate do I live in?

• The Hon Simon Crean MP (Minister for the Arts; Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government)

PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600

S.Crean.MP@aph.gov.au

• Senator the Hon George Brandis SC (Shadow Attorney General, Shadow Minister for the Arts)

GPO Box 228, Brisbane QLD 4001

senator.brandis@aph.gov.au

Alternatively, send your comments to any one of our partners and they may include your comments in their submissions (listed in document footer).

Submissions are due by midnight Friday 21 October.

If you’ve got a great story or case study to illustrate any of the issues or goals discussed in the paper please include them in your submission as politicians love to hear these stories but also please send through to us at ampag@ampag.com.au as these are helpful in our lobbying efforts.

Sue Donnelly

Executive Director
AUSTRALIAN MAJOR PERFORMING ARTS GROUP
P: 02 9253 5350 |M: 0411 404 480 |F: (02) 9253 5301|Skype: sueampag
PO Box 1965 Royal Exchange NSW 1225  | Level 3, 10 Hickson Road, The Rocks NSW 2000  (Office of The Australian Ballet)
www.ampag.com.au