Google AI


Modern Australian

Why arts and culture appear to be the big losers in this budget

  • Written by: Guy Morrow, Senior Lecturer in Arts & Cultural Management, The University of Melbourne
Why arts and culture appear to be the big losers in this budget

While one more A$20 million round of the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund was announced as part of the 2022-23 budget to support reactivating the arts and entertainment sector post-Covid-19 lockdowns, this scheme is coming to an end.

With funding cuts forecast out to as far as 2025-26, the arts and culture appear to be big losers in this budget.

In addition to the $20.0 million in 2022-23 to phase down the RISE Fund, the budget includes:

  • $9.3 million over two years for the National Museum of Australia to support its services impacted by COVID 19

  • $9 million in 2021-22 for a second round of the Supporting Cinemas’ Retention Endurance and Enhancement of Neighbourhoods (SCREEN) Fund to support independent cinemas affected by COVID 19

  • an extension of the Temporary Interruption Fund, which provides insurance to screen projects shut down due to COVID-related issues, for a further six months to 30 June 2022, and

  • $316.5 million over five years to build an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural precinct, Ngurra, on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin in the Parliamentary Triangle, on Ngunnawal country (Canberra).

With the loss of COVID stimulus measures, the big losers under arts and culture in the budget are:

  • the end of the RISE fund, represented in the cut to “arts and cultural development”, receiving $2.4 million in 2023-24, down from $159 million in 2021-22

  • the loss of $6.4 million in contemporary music related COVID measures, and

  • Screen Australia: its funding will be reduced from a high of $39.5 million in 2021-22 to $11.6 million in 2023-24, reducing funding to the pre-COVID baseline.

The decline in arts funding fits Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s big picture narrative that the time for “crisis level” spending is now over, and the budget forecasts such as those for arts and culture only “appear” to be bleak due to the tapering down from the crisis level funding.

Portfolio Budget Statements 2022–23 Budget Related Paper No. 1.10 Read more: A cost-of-living budget: cuts, spends, and everything you need to know at a glance The end of RISE funding The government’s biggest arts and culture investment during the pandemic was the RISE fund, which saw $200 million go towards 541 projects. The RISE fund represented a move away from the “arms-length” independent funding decisions made by the Australia Council peer assessors. Instead, the arts minister had the ultimate authority regarding RISE. This aspect of RISE was reminiscent of George Brandis’ 2015 shock annexation of Australia Council funding to the then National Programme for Excellence in the Arts (which then became Catalyst). But the baseline Australia Council funding has remained steady in this year’s budget, rising only in line with inflation. While RISE was a short-term crisis level funding initiative using the arts as an instrument to stimulate the economy, support for the Australia Council in the budget is for the support of “excellent art” for “audiences in Australia and abroad”. The difference in these programs meant RISE funding went not only to not-for-profit arts organisations and individual artists, as the Australia Council primarily supports, but also to commercial creative activity. Read more: Latest arts windfalls show money isn't enough. We need transparency A loss of over-all funding According to the government, the expected decrease in overall cultural funding from 2021-22 to 2022-23 is predominantly driven by the loss of temporary arts funding for economic stimulus. Expenses under the arts and cultural heritage are estimated to decrease by 10.6% in real terms from 2021-22 to 2022-23, and decrease by 13.1% in real terms from 2022-23 to 2025-26. It is not clear why this scaling down of crisis level funding appears to be uneven. In particular, many of Australia’s cultural institutions – who are already under pressure when it comes to preserving cultural heritage – are facing significant cuts. The National Museum of Australia is projected to receive $51 million in 2023-24, losing its $9.3 million in COVID support. The National Gallery of Australia’s funding will drop from $49.6 million in 2021-22 to $45.7 million in 2022-23. Funding for the National Library Australia will fall from $61 million in 2022-23 to $47.1 million in the following year. Read more: Staff cuts will hurt the National Gallery of Australia, but it’s not spending less on art. It’s just spending it differently A commercially driven future? Over the last two years, the arts were valued by the federal government to the extent that they were able to be used to stimulate the economy. The assumption appears to be that, now that the creative and cultural industries have received a $200 million shot in the arm, they will now be able to stand back up and walk on their own two feet – and help those businesses around them do likewise. It doesn’t appear the RISE Fund, and its ultimate decision making power by the minister, is a template for the future of arts funding in any literal sense because it is due to disappear. But it may have changed the culture of arts funding in this country, explicitly focusing funding on cultural activities and initiatives informed by an overtly commercial mindset. With many artists and organisations still struggling in this “COVID normal” landscape, this budgetary pendulum swing away from funding artistic projects and events paints a bleak picture. Authors: Guy Morrow, Senior Lecturer in Arts & Cultural Management, The University of Melbourne

Read more https://theconversation.com/why-arts-and-culture-appear-to-be-the-big-losers-in-this-budget-180127

Breach of Contract in Business: What Are Your Options?

Contracts are essential to business relationships. They establish expectations, allocate responsibilities and provide a framework for delivering goods...

How Pest Control Companies Can Rank for the Problems Customers Search First

Introduction SEO for Pest Control needs to start with the customer’s problem. Most people do not search for pest services in a neat or technical wa...

What Are the Benefits of Renovating an Older Home in Sydney?

Sydney has plenty of character homes, from Federation cottages to mid-century brick homes. Renovating rather than rebuilding can preserve what makes t...

Pool and Deck Design: How to Plan the Perfect Outdoor Living Space for Your Sydney Home

For many Australians, the backyard is where life happens. Summer barbecues, weekend swims and long evenings outdoors are all part of the lifestyle, ...

Is Solar Pool Heating Worth It? What Sydney Homeowners Should Know

There's nothing quite like a backyard pool on a hot Sydney day. But once autumn rolls in, many pools sit unused for months because the water is simp...

Planning a Luxury House Move: A Week-by-Week Timeline for Prestige Sydney Homes

Selling or buying a prestige home is a major milestone. Whether it's a waterfront residence in Birchgrove, a grand Federation home in Haberfield or ...

Downsizing or Upgrading Your Caravan? Here's How to Sell It Without the Hassle

Selling a caravan can feel like a major task, especially when you are unsure about its value, paperwork, or how to find a buyer. Whether you are dow...

The Best Overseas Adventure Holidays for Australians Who Love the Outdoors

Australia offers no shortage of incredible outdoor experiences, but sometimes the best way to satisfy your sense of adventure is to head overseas. A...

Cape Town Wine Shuttle: Winelands Tasting & Tours

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the picturesque Cape Winelands, where world-class wines and breathtaking scenery await. Our Cape Town Win...

Metal Fabrication: Choosing Metal Fabrication Melbourne Services for Custom Projects

What Modern Metal Fabrication Involves From individual components to complete structures, metal fabrication brings together processes such as desig...

Why Giant Rats Tail Grass Keeps Coming Back After Spraying

Giant Rats Tail Grass (GRT) is one of the most frustrating pasture weeds for farmers and lifestyle property owners. You spray an infested area, see th...

When Custom Cardboard Boxes Make Sense for Your Business

Custom cardboard boxes can be useful when a standard carton does not fit a product, packing method or presentation requirement particularly well. A ...

Full-Height vs. Pop-Top Caravan: Which Is Better for Family Travel across WA?

A pop-top caravan is an excellent choice for travellers who want the comfort of a caravan without committing to a larger, bulkier setup. With a lowe...

Bottle Label Printing: Key Factors for a Professional Finish

Why the Printing Method Matters When businesses need packaging or printed containers developed for a particular application, the right supplier can m...

Virtual Livestock Fencing and GPS Tracking: Improving Visibility Across Cattle Properties

What Virtual Livestock Fencing Means for Modern Cattle Management Managing cattle across extensive properties requires more than knowing where anim...

Sydney Pawnbrokers Explained: How Hocking Your Car Actually Works

Sometimes you need cash, and you need it soon. If you own a car, you may already have a way to get it. That's what people mean when they say they've...

Moving Interstate from the Gold Coast to Brisbane (or Back)? What Removalists Wish You Knew First

Have you talked to anyone who’s done the move? They say the same thing: the drive up the M1 is the easy part. It's everything around it that catches...

Why the Spring School Holidays Are a Great Time to Visit Coffs Harbour

The spring school holidays are a good time to spend a few days on the Coffs Coast. The weather is starting to warm up, there is plenty to do outdoor...