Senate Inquiry into federal budget decisions affecting the Arts
On 16 June 2015, the Senate announced the Legal and Constitution Affairs References Committee would review the impact of the recent federal budget decisions affecting the Arts, including the suitability and appropriateness of establishing the National Programme for Excellence in the Arts (NPEA) to be administered by the Ministry for the Arts.
The NPEA diverts $104.8 million from the Australia Council’s budget over four years, reducing funding for small-to-medium arts organisations and individual artists. Arts Law, one of the many arts organisations which receives funding from the Australia Council to provide its services, has already been impacted by this budget cut with the suspension of the Australia Council’s new Six Year funding program.
In response to national protest and lobbying the Senate Inquiry will consider:
- the effect on funding arrangements for artists and arts organisations,
- protection of freedom of artistic expression and prevention of political influence,
- the degree of access to a diversity of quality art and cultural experiences,
- the criteria for funding and implementation processes for the NPEA, and
- issues of duplication of administration and resourcing in the Arts.
The Committee has now called for submissions from the public and Arts Law will be making a submission in the coming weeks.
Submissions close 17 July 2015 and the Committee’s report is due 15 September 2015.
Click here to make a submission to the Committee.