Perth Voice Interactive

COMMUNITY arts programs will be cut, jobs lost and emerging artists might miss out on their big break following massive Abbott government budget cuts to the Australia Council, local industry leaders say.

Three local arts company managers have told the Voice their combined losses could top $650,000 a year because of a $105 million cut to the body that advises the government on arts and funds organisations.

They face having to compete for a smaller pool of Australia Council funds or putting the begging bowl out to federal arts minister George Brandis’ new Centre for the Excellence in Arts Program, which is directly overseen by his office.

Perth-based Tura New Music general manager Annalisa Oxenburgh says the new regime will limit the support it can offer musicians and composers—and it might even have to disband—if it loses the $150,000 annual funding which accounts for 20 per cent of the not-for-profit organisation’s income. “We’re a stepping stone for artists so for this to happen will mean people might miss out on an opportunity to build their career,” Ms Oxenburgh says.

Pilar Kasat says Community Arts Network WA—on Murray Street in the CBD—stands to lose $200,000 a year, comprising 10 per cent of its income.

The organisation had hoped to score an extra $300,000 between 2017 and 2023 but those hopes have been shelved indefinitely following the release of the May budget and the shock funding announcement.

Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts director Amy Barrett-Lennard says programs and jobs are on the line as she contemplates the possibility of losing $310,000 per year in funding.

PICA had also wanted extra money as part of a six-year funding agreement, to feed and expand on all its art forms, including theatre and dance.

With the process for extra funds suspended and all arts council funding “up in the air” Ms Barrett-Lennard says growth plans are in jeopardy.

“It’s caused a long-term issue,” she says.

She says PICA isn’t the hardest hit organisation and her major concern is for small/medium-sized outfits.

At present, organisations are funded over three years. Under the new model, funding will be per project, and a year at a time, making long-term planning more difficult.

“Loss of multi-year funding will see many of these organisations forced to close or relocate,” Ms Barrett-Lennard says. “All will be forced to reduce their programming and support of artists.”

She says the cuts will be a major hit to the art scene’s “engine room” as burgeoning artists face missing out on opportunities to develop skills and test ideas.

More than 145 arts companies—including Yirra Yaakin theatre company in Subiaco—stand to lose funds because of the move.

Critics say the cut to the Australia Council, announced by Senator Brandis in the May budget, was payback for the council-funded Biennale of Sydney rejecting sponsorship from Transfield, which runs offshore detention centres.

Senator Brandis has redirected the funds to the national excellence in the arts program.

The boss of disability arts organisation DADAA, David Doyle, told the Voice the arts minister has effectively silenced criticism of the move by quarantining large, classical, high-end organisations—which have media clout—from cuts and they’ve been either reluctant to speak or have been complimentary of the changes.

Mr Doyle says the Australia Council has been too acquiesent too. He’s written a stern letter to chairman Rupert Myer for his “poor” form in not alerting affected organisations nor speaking out on their behalf.

Mr Doyle says the cuts leave a huge hole in WA’s arts budget, leaving the cash-strapped state government with a massive headache. “It’s a nightmare,” he told the Voice. WA arts minister John Day would not commit to filling any hole, saying the Barnett government had already invested more than $180 million to the arts in 2014/15 and $428.3 million on a new museum.

by EMMIE DOWLING and STEVE GRANT