Mitch Fifield redirects $32m of funding back to Australia Council, but ministry retains final say on Catalyst fund in ‘bittersweet moment’ for sector

Arts minister Mitch Fifield has cut the annual budget of the National Program for Excellence in the Arts (NPEA) and renamed the funding body, Catalyst – Australian Arts and Culture Fund.

The move follows widespread arts industry criticism of the NPEA, which was established by former arts minister George Brandis using $104.8m redirected from Australia Council funds.

Fifield replaced Brandis as arts minister in prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s cabinet reshuffle in September. This move slashes the NPEA’s proposed annual budget of $20m down to $12m, with the difference returned to the Australia Council.

Arts minister promises to ditch Brandis-style 'out of the blue' funding changes Read more

A release issued by Fifield’s office said the return of $32m to Australia Council takes its total budget to $783m over the next four years.

Catalyst is intended to “support innovative ideas from arts and cultural organisations that may find it difficult to access funding for such projects from other sources and could include gallery, library, archive, museum, arts education and infrastructure projects,” the release said.

“The program aims to forge new creative partnerships and stimulate novel ways to build participation by Australians in our cultural life.”

Applications for Catalyst funding can be made through three streams: partnerships and collaborations; innovation and participation; and international and cultural diplomacy.

The fund will be open to arts organisations of all sizes and levels, but not individuals, gaming or heritage projects, or projects already funded by the ministry or the Australia Council.

Tamara Winikoff , executive director of the National Association for the Visual Arts (Nava), greeted Fifield’s announcement with mixed feelings, saying it was a “bittersweet moment” for the arts in Australia.

“We are relieved that the minister is prepared to go some way towards alleviating the havoc being caused by the original decision of his predecessor,” said Winikoff.

“However, the renamed Catalyst program is still being created at the expense of ensuring the survival of organisations that are the engine room for developing and presenting new Australian work.”

Like the NPEA before it, Catalyst will be administered by the ministry for the arts, with applications assessed with the assistance of independent assessors. Published guidelines say “the minister for the arts or delegate in the department will make the final decision regarding any funding awarded”.

After the budget: shh! Australia's era of artistic silencing begins Read more

Brandis faced harsh criticism for removing the “arms length” principle of arts funding from proposals for the NPEA.

Winikoff said Nava would continue to push for a more considered strategy from the Coalition government, citing a May 2012 review of the Australia Council by the previous Labor government which called for an increase in total arts funding investment.

“Governments of any complexion are beholden to artists who are the producers of the country’s cultural fingerprint. We have witnessed serious damage to the sector,” she said.

“Already jobs have been lost, programs cancelled and artists’ opportunities have evaporated. This must never be allowed to happen again.”

Winikoff added Nava would also be taking up Fifield’s proposal at recent meetings with industry figures that the sector should develop an arts policy for the country.

“Our aim is to produce an evidence-based, non-partisan blueprint for positively shaping the expression of Australian culture, within which all political parties will recognise a role,” Winikoff said.