Letter to the Editor: Is Andrew Nikolic serious?

Friday, 24 July 2015

The Editor
Tasmanian Times

Via email: editor@oldtt.pixelkey.biz

Dear Sir,

Re: Multi-Year Arts Funding

Is Andrew Nikolic serious?

He recently defended the NPEA and changes to art funding stating that the “measures are not a cut in funding to the arts portfolio, but simply broadening the access to funding”. This statement, as well as his insinuation that regional communities would benefit, is completely misleading, if not false.

A total of $105m will be diverted from the portfolio to projects preferred by Minister Brandis, none of which will be in northern Tasmania. In fact, it is very likely that the only organisation funded in Tasmania under the NPEA will be the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

The lack of consultation is evident in this funding model, and preferencing the works of long dead men over living local artists, as well as the general destabilising of the arts sector, is deplorable.

Yours sincerely,

Andrea Dawkins
Greens Member for Bass
Spokesperson for Arts

• Carol Rea in Comments: Here is the list of Arts organisations who are losing their funding . In addition to this the 6 year grants have been withdrawn, even from successful applications, throwing planned projects into chaos. Included on this list is KickStart Arts of New Town who are currently developing a thriving arts precinct in the old Orphan School at St Johns Park. They have had numerous collaborative community projects with youth, refugees, rural communities, mental health clients, people living with disability. They are story tellers and arts coordinators. The new centre opens in August. Another on the list is our internationally renowned Terrapin Theatre ! The list makes interesting reading. It hits at the very substance of medium sized, community based, creative enterprise.
The people who bring so much to so many with so little funding are now being asked to do it even tougher: Crikey HERE