South Australia’s arts sector expresses “disappointment” with State Budget

South Australia’s arts sector is holding a meeting today (Monday June 26) to get a briefing on what the 2017-18 State Budget will mean for the arts and the artists.

It will held between 5.30pm and 7pm at the Piano Bar at the Adelaide Festival Centre.It is being convened by the Arts Industry Council of SA (AICSA), which represents 100 organisations and individuals.

AICSA says that while the budget has put funding for capital works and festivals, it is disappointed that no new money was set aside for individual artists and small-to-medium arts organisations.

AICSA was annoyed that the Government had not taken up any of the proposals it had outlined in a survival plan delivered to Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis.

It would have cost $17 million over four years, with $4.2 million for the 2017–18 period. In return, it would have seen the sector flourish and be in a position to be creative and find more international recognition.

Now, in responding to the State Budget, AICSA Chair Gail Kovatseff said, “While we recognise that this Budget has seen no cuts to the arts, overall the Government has ignored the calls of artists and arts organisations to redress the dire and stagnant funding environment facing individual artists and small-to-medium arts organisations in South Australia.

“New initiatives have entirely focussed on capital investment and major institutions. We welcome these initiatives.

“However even a modest investment in grants programs, individual career development and arts innovation could have had a deep impact on the development of new South Australian artistic work, the heart of art-making in South Australia – artists themselves, and keeping artists in our state.”

The SA Government allocated $36 million to the arts in the Budget, of which $31 million is to expand the redevelopment of Her Majesty’s Theatre. This includes an additional floor, a new roof above the auditorium, raising the roof above the stage to fit in a modern fly tower and increasing safety for patrons.

The construction, during which 220 new jobs will be created, is scheduled to be completed by end of 2019.

The Government says that this will allow Her Majesty’s Theatre to stage 50 more performances each year.

“Arts festivals are a major economic driver in South Australia and every year they continue to grow and attract visitors from interstate and abroad,” Koutsantonis said.

“But the demand exists for this sector to grow even further, and we don’t want South Australia to miss out on major touring shows because we don’t have the capacity in our theatres.”

The music industry gets funding for three live music events through the UNESCO City of Music Events Fund.

It will also benefit from $1 million set around the reopening of the Adelaide Festival Centre for concerts and performances, as well as the promotion of a walk of fame promenade in which music names are included.

The 2018 Adelaide Festival gets $1.25 million, primarily for commissioning and presentation of major international work.

The previously announced $960,000 per annum goes to Adelaide Fringe to keep ticket prices down and increase audience numbers and music tourists.

Arts SA gets $1.1 million for events, exhibitions and public programming.

$1.9 million is allocated for an international search for architectural design submissions for the proposed new Adelaide Contemporary gallery to be constructed at the Old Royal Adelaide Hospital site.

Arts Minister Jack Snelling said: “The State Government has a strong track record of supporting the arts and presenting an enviable calendar of world-class arts events in South Australia.

“By ensuring at least 50 additional touring shows can visit Adelaide each year, we can further cement our reputation internationally as a leader in the arts.

“This redevelopment will also create more jobs in the arts sector and result in more money being injected into our visitor economy.

“The international search for a team to design the proposed Adelaide Contemporary project is also an exciting first step in what would be a game-changer for our state.”

At tonight’s meeting, AICSA will highlight the value of investing in artists, and will ask all parties contesting the state election to release their arts policies and funding numbers.

As with last year’s Federal election, AICSA will target a number of marginal electorates.

In its November 2016 proposal, AICSA emphasised the urgent need for investment to be directed to the small-to-medium sector, which had lost much Federal funding.

Independent artists could be helped with eight fellowships valued at $80,000 a year for established names, and 20 early-career artist development grants each year of $30,000 each.

A new Innovation and Experimentation Fund would distribute $1 million each year to new work and artistic projects, and harness creative contribution to the innovation agenda.

AICSA also requested that the Government form a multi-department task force to develop a long-term arts and cultural strategy before the state election in March 2018.

It pointed out, “This type of cross-government approach successfully led to a sector-supported, ambitious and progressive creative industries strategy, called Creative State, in Victoria.”

Photo: Her Majesty’s Theatre