Australian art, culture and creativity are NOT optional extras

The latest Australian federal budget contained brutal funding cuts for key institutions, such as the Australia Council, that exist to support and encourage Australia’s art and creativity.

The exact amounts are being debated by our government right now, but are estimated to be worth around $100m.

In a budget totalling over $442bn, these relatively insignificant cuts will be keenly and disproportionately felt by communities, creatives, artists and audiences across the country. No new innovation funds, no help for our creative industries, no new community investments.

It seems shortsighted because it is.

At the very same time, research has been published showing overwhelming support for artistic, cultural and community activities by the Australian people.

89% of us believe the arts enrich our lives and should be ‘an important part of the education of every Australian’.

95% of us were involved in some way with artistic and cultural activities in the last 12 months.

Does this sound like an irrelevant expense?? Enough is enough!

We believe that art, culture and creativity enriches each of us as individuals, as a community and as a country. We believe that the current proposed cuts to Screen Australia, the Australia Council, the ABC and the Arts community in Australia are un-called for, ill-considered and should be removed from the list of changes to the budget immediately.

We need to send this message to Canberra immediately, before it’s too late. If you agree, then join us and sign below!

Reference Links:

http://theopenbudget.org/

http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/200927/Arts-in-Daily-Life-Australian-Participation-in-the-Arts.pdf