Australia Council axes some schemes, but music programs safe

The Australia Council has axed a number of initiatives after last week’s Federal Budget stripped its appropriation for 2015-16 to $184.5 million.

ArtsStart, set up to help recent arts and music graduates set up their businesses, and the six-year funding for organisations program, are suspended, Council CEO Tony Grybowski confirmed last night.

But to the relief of the music industry, Contemporary Touring Initiative and Contemporary Music Touring Program will continue.

So will the Major Performing Arts framework, Visual Arts and Crafts Strategy and Playing Australia.

Grybowski said, “These government directed programs make up 66% of the Council’s 2015-16 appropriations. The Council’s remaining funds are $62 million, which is $23 million less than expected. These funds support the Australia Council’s grants model, current Key Organisations, national and international development activities, capacity building, research and operations.”

The June grant round will not proceed but existing applications can be assessed within the September round, which will include multi-year project support for individual artists and arts organisations. The March grant round is unaffected and the outcomes will be announced in June.

Although the six-year funding for organisations program is suspended, the Australia Council will honour the current contracts of multi-year funded organisations until their conclusion at the end of 2016.

The Creative Communities Partnerships Initiative and Artists in Residence programs will not be offered in the future.

However, “working within budget constraints, the Australia Council will continue to deliver national and international development activity, dedicated support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, research, evaluation and capacity building. The Council will maintain its strong connections with the sector and provide ongoing updates related to these changes.”

As reported, $110 million will be redirected over four years from the Australia Council to the new National Programme for Excellence in the Arts, run by the Ministry for the Arts. The Ministry now handles Visions of Australia, Festivals Australia and the Major Festivals Initiative. Part of the $110 million also sees the matched funding program go to Creative Partnerships Australia.

Grybowski concluded, “The 2015-16 budget measures will have a significant impact and the Australia Council will be working closely with the Ministry for the Arts and Creative Partnerships Australia to avoid duplication and offer support to the sector that is complementary.”

A dance protest under the banner #FreetheArts will be held in all capital cities at 1.30 pm today. A petition demanding that Attorney General and Arts Minister George Brandis abandon cuts and independence to arts funding has been signed by 4,000 arts practitioners and organisations.