Community Arts Support At Risk!
The ACT Government’s recent decision to discontinue funding of the ACT Community Arts Office (ACAO) will impact significantly on access and equity in the arts, and on cultural development in Canberra.
The government’s decision will effectively leave Canberra without an arts advocacy service for people from diverse and disadvantaged communities. The changes will mean four arts professionals; a Strategic Manager, Indigenous Arts Officer, ArtsAbility Officer and Multicultural Arts Officer will no longer be employed to reduce barriers to participation in the arts and promote inclusion for high need sectors of our community.
Assurances have been given that the current Arts Officer positions are safe until Dec 31st 2012. However, ArtsACT are unable to give assurances that employment of staff will be ongoing in any way after that date.
Our understanding is that de-funding ACAO will make resources available for the government to fund the employment of two arts worker positions at each of the arts centres in Tuggeranong and Belconnen. It is also our understanding that new positions will not be culturally "Identified" or specific to any particular community or demographic, meaning that targeted arts support for Indigenous, Multicultural and Disability (including mental health) communities will no longer be an identified priority.
Our experience is that the Multicultural, Indigenous and ArtsAbility Officers play a vital role ensuring access and equitable representation in the Canberra arts environment. The ACT Community Arts Office is a unique model and we believe the service represents a growing area of need for the Canberra region.
The ACT Community Arts Office has a solid track record of achievement. In the past 12 months alone the office has
* Implemented 16 key projects and more then thirty associated activities.
*Employed 15 professional artists.
*Provided opportunities for 266 people from diverse communities to actively participate in arts projects.
* Attracted total audiences of 5530 people to a range of events, exhibitions and performances.
* Provided 'Micro Grants' to 10 emerging artists. Enabling them to further their artistic careers.
* Developed 23 project partnerships.
ACT Community Arts Office keeps people connected, advocating between the complex needs of arts and health, language and cultural issues. Arts Officer’s provide intensive assistance to diverse and disadvantaged artists, assisting with funding, mentoring, arts projects and professional development. Major projects coordinated by the ACAO create pathways to involvement in professional arts opportunities in the ACT.
Arts Office clients say they would not have the confidence to participate without this support and have expressed deep concern at potentially losing the support currently provided by the Arts Officers.
Dismantling the ACAO in favour of a model that is yet to be fully defined or tested is a backward step for Access and Equity in the arts.
To find out more information or to make comment on the situation please contact the ACT Community Arts Office at the address below.
Level 1, North Building
180 London Cct, Civic
PO Box 992, Civic Sq
ACT 2608
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