Adelaide rally protests proposed arts funding cuts

Image Credit:Arts Industry Council of South Australia

A few hundred members of South Australia’s arts sector held a rally yesterday on the steps of the state’s Parliament House in Adelaide to protest proposed arts funding cuts of 7%.

The State Government wants to cut funding over the next three years by about $8.5 million each year from 2018-19.

This comes on the heels of a series of cuts to the Australia Council’s budget for small to medium organisations. Up to 40% of these would lose their funding, warned a number of speakers, and the state could see an exodus of talent from the state.

Rob Brookman, Treasurer of the Arts Industry Council of SA and Executive Director of the State Theatre Company, warned the sector faced being “decimated” estimated that 15 small to medium arts groups would close by the end of the year. Another eleven were also on a danger list.

He added, “It will result in a black hole for our community over the coming five to 10 years. It will see our artists leaving the state not able to support themselves, not able to see a pathway forwards, and it will completely give the lie to the idea that South Australia has got some kind of significant leadership role in the arts in Australia.

“Forty per cent. What does that mean here? First of all, could we dodge a bullet? Could the Australia Council take pity on a busted-arse state with the highest unemployment rate in the country? Might they assume that the arts organisations in the eastern sea-board megalopolises will have a better chance of finding a way through via commercial income, state support and philanthropy. And conjure a stay of execution for South Australia? The answer to that is ‘no’. The Australia Council is scrupulously fair and transparent. Its processes will ensure that the pain is shared proportionately. We will cop our whack.”

The message of the rally did not directly reach Arts Minister Jack Snelling or Arts SA Executive Director Peter Louca. Both were out of the state. But a Government spokesperson said the arts community was “not immune to cross-government efficiency targets”, that details would be released after the next SA budget, and that it was on talks with the groups and festivals being funded.

A political debate had been organised in Melbourne on June 8 for the major parties to outline their arts policies.