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

BAYSWATER city council has backed down from issuing $100 fines in zones that only warn of $50 pings.

On May 8 the council doubled fines and dead-keen rangers have been pinging parkers the higher fee despite some of the city’s 400-plus signs not warning of the change.

Voice reader Caroline needed a stiff drink after being slugged $100 for overstaying at the bottle-o carpark on Eighth Avenue. The sign said she’d be up for $50.

She took her complaint straight to the council and, after enduring a lengthy battle with bureaucracy—and being told the council had every right to charge the bigger fee—she says the council eventually relented and halved her fine.

But while her case was settled she’s told the Voice it’s unfair if everyone else is being slugged.

Mayor Sylvan Albert says—via an email filtered through staff—that the council has a right to charge the bigger amount because it’s written in the local law.

However, “it has decided not to issue any further increased penalty amounts where the signage has not been updated and still reflects the $50 penalty”.

“To address this issue as quickly as possible city officers are now placing stickers over the existing signs to demonstrate the new penalty amounts.”

by DAVID BELL

HIGHGATE’S Janine Wells and friends are busy working away, making dolls to send to Africa.

They’re part of the Uthando Project, an Australia-wide network making dolls for children of KwaZulu-Natal, a province of South Africa.

Ms Wells, a retired teacher, has been making dolls for about five years. They each take five or six hours to put together, and she’s made more than a hundred.

The dolls have a number of uses but the project started to try to comfort children who’d lost one or both parents to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

“They don’t have anything, these children,” Ms Wells says, and the dolls provide a silent friend to grieving children.

They’re also used by caregivers as a prop to discuss difficult topics. Some children use the dolls to act out funerals or other sad scenes, and they’re helpful for sexual health education.

The Uthando project has a fundraising exhibition at Kidogo Arthouse in Fremantle July 14 to 19, and if you want to get knitting yourself, head to uthandoproject.org to find a local group.

by DAVID BELL

CHRIS CORNISH wants Bayswater council to develop a “report-it” app so people can more easily notify the council about infrastructure that needs repair.

The central ward councillor says residents often spot graffiti and potholes but by the time they get back home they’ve forgotten about it, or can’t be bothered contacting the council by email or phone.

The app would let users take a photo of the damage and automate emailing the complaint and GPS co-ordinates to the council.

Cr Cornish says “Report-it” would cost under $5000 to develop and would be the first of its kind in WA local government.

“I am sure many people don’t report issues because it’s just too difficult,” he says.

“With this motion I am breaking down the barriers of communication with the city.

“This will get more eyes out on the street.”

A similar app is used by councils in Queensland and South Australia.

Cr Cornish adds the app could complement the existing manual reporting system and encourage younger people to take more interest in their city.

“I don’t have the stats, but I suspect a lot of problems reported are by an older demographic, so hopefully this system will engage a younger audience,” he says.

He believes there’d be no job cuts involved.

“If anything we will be getting more contact from the residents and it will require more staff to process this communication,” he says.

“Because it will take some time for more and more people to download and start using the app, I believe that council management will be able to allocate their resources appropriately should there be a compounding increase in the number of users reporting issues through the app.”

“Report-it” will come before council later this month.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

FOTI has fizzled. The pyrotechnic wizards behind the Australia Day fireworks for six years, Foti International Fireworks has lost the contract for next year’s event.

Perth city council awarded the $450,000 tender to Howard & Sons Pyrotechnics, which outbid both Foti and Fireworks Australia.

“Howard and Son’s had the greatest spend on the supply of goods and services for the event,” council officers reported.

“They provided a detailed budget which clearly outlined spend for the event. Foti International Fireworks submitted the values schedule however a detailed budget with a breakdown of costs was not provided.”

The contract includes options for 2017 and 2018: “These things happen,” Forch Foti said. “But with regard to the costings, we provided everything that was asked of us in the tender process.

“We would love to run Skyworks again and have enjoyed the past six years. Don’t worry, we’ll be back.”

Howard and Son’s, based in NSW, produces more than 600 annual displays, including the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Earlier this year, the company won the prestigious Da Nang international fireworks competition in Vietnam.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

PET owners dump animals in greater numbers before public and school holidays because they “can’t be bothered” boarding them an animal rescuer says.

Sue Campbell, president of SAFE Perth—a group that saves animals from euthanasia—pleads with readers to think carefully before committing to a furry friend and to plan well ahead before going on holidays. She says the group is gearing up for one of its busiest times of the year and expects to rescue at least 15 abandoned pets in the fortnight to the July 4 school holidays.

“You’d think we’d only get the Christmas puppies, but we get a lot of animals before any public holiday,” she says. “What seems to be happening is they don’t understand how far in advance they need to book in for a cattery or dog boarding kennel and have a current vaccination to be accepted, so they miss out and decide to surrender them instead.

“Sometimes you have to book six months in advance before Christmas and Easter for a good one. People should make sure they have reliable provisions in place for pets while they’re away.”

Animals can be euthanised, given to a rescue team such as SAFE Perth or rehoused after just 72 hours inside a pound if not microchipped. Animals with a microchip are kept for seven days before disposal.

SAFE Perth—a 10-year-old volunteer-run, not-for-profit charity—rescues animals from pounds and vets and also deals with people who choose to surrender their pets. About 400 volunteers cover a vast area that includes Broome, Albany and the Wheatbelt. The group expects to rescue 900 animals this financial year.

Samantha Smith adopted her dogs Shakey and Yahoo through SAFE Perth because she wanted to help neglected animals.

“I don’t think some people realise what a big responsibility having a pet can be,” the 38-year-old says. “They don’t see them as a family member, instead they’re an item—like a car. I don’t know why anyone would abandon a pet.” To become a volunteer, adopt a pet or make a donation to SAFE Perth, visit http://www.safeperth.com.au

by EMMIE DOWLING

MORLEY LIBRARY will temporarily move to the Les Hansman Community Centre from January—for up to eight years.

The lease for the current library building, located at The Galleria, expires December 27 and will not be renewed.

Bayswater mayor Sylvan Albert says he’d have preferred the library stay put.

“We weren’t paying commercial rates and it was obviously more desirable for the centre to get in a new tenant who would pay a higher rent,” he says.

“Unfortunately we were ham-strung and had no choice but to relocate the library to a temporary location.

“In original discussions with the centre they were amenable to extending the lease for a bit longer, but then they reneged on that.”

Cr Albert adds it’s likely the library will stay in the Les Hansman for at least three years, and maybe as long as eight.

“Before we decide on the new location for the library we need to carefully reassess the role of the modern library in the community,” Cr Albert says.

“The role of the traditional library had changed and is now becoming even more of a social and community hub.”

Tony Green, president of the Bayswater City Residents’ Association, did a walk through of the Les Hansman with Cr Albert this week.

“Apart from the sports clubs, the rest of the ‘sit-down’ clubs should still be able to hold meetings in an upstairs room,” he says. “So this is good news for the likes of the Ciampino club and our ratepayers association which use the centre regularly. Ironically the centre was originally going to be a library but it wasn’t big enough, so it’s come full circle.”

The centre, built in 1977, has a main hall, meeting room and kitchen, and is used by several community groups including the Perth Radio Electric Car Club.

The Galleria is also home to the council-owned Max Tulley Centre and a childcare centre.

Earlier this year, it was mooted the facilities could be relocated to a new multi-million dollar Les Hansman.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

ALANNAH MacTIERNAN has backed Tony Buti to replace Ken Travers in WA Labor’s shadow cabinet.

Mr Travers resigned as transport shadow suddenly a fortnight ago and WA Labor leader Mark McGowan is mulling over whether to add the portfolio to another shadow’s workload or appoint a successor.

Ms MacTiernan, now the federal Labor MP for Perth but formerly a senior member of the Gallop and Carpenter Labor governments, describes Mr Buti—who succeeded her as the Labor MP for Armadale—as “extremely talented”.

“I think he deserves some recognition,” she said, before diving into a Canberra meeting.

Mr Buti is the opposition parliamentary secretary for child protection and played a key role in writing ‘Saori’s Law’, a bill introduced to parliament by WA Labor that would ensure domestic violence offenders receive tougher sentences.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

PETER JEFFERY has compiled a lifetime’s worth of his poems in his new tome “True to Poetry in my Fashion”.

A patriarch of Perth’s arts scene he was awarded an OAM for his work in multiculturalism, arts, film and TV education.

Eighty now, he’s dropped in and out of writing poetry over the years, tapering off as he became busier lecturing in film and TV.

“My poetry became a once or twice a year event, and sadly it was often to mark the death of a friend,” he says.

Still active in the local scene he’s a mainstay at poetry readings at the Moon cafe, and he still edits the online poetry and haiku journal Creatrix.

“I think I’m too busy to be called retired,” he drawls.

With 80-odd poems in the book drawn from his travels, he says a major motivation was to ensure their preservation for his children.

With an entire section marked “Love Carnal, Romantic and Family,” there’s plenty of steamy personal details laid out too (his 1964 poem Two Together: Two Apart reads “I remember the hollow of your groin, Cupping up to hold the pudenda, The erstwhile pubic scrolling and the sense of honeyed oil”).

He says he’s none too shy about laying it out bare: “I’ve been married twice, I have two sets of children. So it’s warts and all, but that’s who I was, that’s who I am, and if they don’t know by now, they never will.”

The sculpture on the cover holds a curious importance for Mr Jeffery: he’d found it at a roadside ceramic factory on the way to Halong Bay. His hosts had offered to buy him anything in the place but he chose the sculpture, which cost less than a dollar: “They were surprised by my choice… I had to explain to them that this group of three men around a table with wine cups in hand were like the free and spirited exchange of poets in the give and take of presenting their personal poems to each other.”

The book launches at Lazy Susan’s Comedy Den (Brisbane Hotel), June 28 at 7.15pm, and it’s available through http://www.regimebooks.com.au

by DAVID BELL

A CONVOY of mobile food trucks could be heading for Bert Wright Park in Bayswater.

StrEats is looking to locate six food trucks in the park as part of the council’s 12-month mobile food trial.

The companies proposed are Comida Do Sul Brazilian Food Truck, Miam Miam (A bite of France), Rancho Sombrero, Uncle Chops Smokehouse, Bootlegger Coffee Co, and Greek Street Grill.

StrEats has applied for a three-month permit. Officers recommend the vans be located in the park parallel to Hamilton Street.

The council’s mobile food trial got off to a slow start with just two vendors—Annie’s Wood Fired Pizza in Bardon Park and a van proposing to sell coffee and biscuits at Wright Park—signing up after four months.

Cool Breeze Cafe co-owner Georgia Johnson says the $1500 yearly permit—nearly double what neighbouring Vincent charges—had contributed to the low take up. The mobile food van permits will be voted on later this month.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK