REGIONAL Tasmanian arts organisations will be the big winners under new funding guidelines for arts funding nationally, Federal Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson said today.
The new guidelines will open up arts funding to a broader range of applicants, especially those in regional areas, Mr Hutchinson said.
Tasmanian arts groups in particular should be aware that the new guidelines do not mean funding cuts to the arts.
He urged those involved and interested to read the guidelines released at the start of the month and now available for public comment.
He said that funding changes would see $27.7 million a year for the next four years moved from the Australia Council to the Ministry for the Arts to be distributed through a new National Program for Excellence in the Arts.
The transfer represents less than 13 per cent of the Australia Council’s total funding and means that more than $27 million annually will be freed up to provide access to arts and cultural experiences for regional audiences, Mr Hutchinson said.
He welcomed the Australia Council for the Arts changes to its grants program in response to this year’s government budget measures.
The Council will replace its six-year Funding for Organisations program with a four year funding model with organisations only needing to submit one application by the December 2015 deadline.
The Council is also developing a new corporate plan which is scheduled to be published by August 31. The plan will provide further details about national and international development activity.
“It’s reassuring that the Australian Council has obviously adapted to the revised funding arrangements,’’ Mr Hutchinson said.
Federal Arts Minister George Brandis said that what he wanted to do with the changes to arts funding was to give all applicants a second opportunity to apply for funding through the new Arts Ministry.
He said that there had not been a reduction in the funding available but two funding streams developed.
Mr Hutchinson said it was healthy to see arts funding being opened up to a wider focus.
“But government funding will never be enough,’’ he said.
“That’s why I would urge those key stakeholders to show their support for the proposed national arts and heritage lottery that has been the subject of a public discussion for some time now.
“This could be the additional funding mechanism to find the extra arts money nationally that people are looking for.”
Mr Hutchinson asked arts community people to contact Arts Minister George Brandis, Heritage Minister Greg Hunt or him with their thoughts about a national arts and heritage lottery.
FEDERAL Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson
