Music and arts sector push back after NSW government’s “poorest funding round in history”
57 music and arts organisations have protested against the results of the “poorest funding round in history” by the NSW state government and strongly urged more investment.
There were 222 applications for round 2 of the Create NSW arts and cultural projects fund.
These totalled $8.2 million in possible funding.
But only six applications were passed, mostly for dance, which represented a paltry success rate of 2.7%, with a total spend of $256,029.
There was nothing for contemporary music.
Of the 57 associations, those directly representing contemporary music were APRA AMCOS, MusicNSW, FBi Radio, Electronic Music Conference, Global Rhythms Music festival, Eastside Radio 89.7FM, Sydney Fringe festival and Sydney Improvised Music Association.
Others included Arts Access, Casula Powerhouse, Arts North West, Arts Northern Rivers, Arts on Tour, Indigenous Art Code, Regional Arts NSW, Arts Out West, Australian Theatre for Young People, The Wired Lab, National, Association for the Visual Arts, NORPA, NSW & ACT Performing Arts Centres Association, Outback Theatre for Young People and Australian Design Centre.
The 57 associations reminded the NSW government that an independent PWC analysis. NSW accounts for 70% of Australia’s creative exports and 42% of Australia’s creative industries employment.
More people work in these industries than in mining or agriculture.
While the arts and culture sector contributes $16.3 billion to the gross state product, the PWC report shows that the NSW government spend on arts and cultural activity is lower than other comparable state governments.
In 2016/7, NSW’s spend was $18 per capita.
Comparatively, Victoria spent $22.90 and Queensland spent $33.80.
In a joint statement, the 57 said, “For every $1 invested in arts and culture, $1.88 is generated for the NSW economy.
“Yet the NSW government’s arts and cultural budget represents only 0.9% of the total NSW budget spend (on 2016/17 figures).
“With such low funding and so few successful projects across the state, artists will begin exercising the choice to base themselves elsewhere.”
What was also of concern was that only one regional application was successful.
Most of this round (68%) went to those from metropolitan Sydney, and one from western Sydney.
A subtle warning was also issued: “Managing expectations is essential for effective industry development programs.
“A grant round that can support only 2.7% of applicants places undue pressure on the entire sector, with 222 application teams representing a significant proportion of NSW’s practitioners and organisations.
“Recognising that each such application takes weeks to complete, this unproductive workload jeopardises capacity and creative potential all over the state.”
For a greater breakdown of round 2 funding, click here.