Edition 18, 2018 – Australia’s arts and culture policy

Editorial

Editorial: Australia’s arts and culture policy: The state of play

By Jenny Wilson — It's a comfy bloody country 'Cos we know what's in our heart Beer and boots, not wine and suits Cricket - not art! [1]

Contribution, Leadership, Policy, Strategy

Four Memos to Myself

By Rupert Myer AO — Things I’ve known, wish I’d known, have learned, unlearned or forgotten.

Contribution, Policy Reform, UK

Valuing the everyday for cultural democracy

By Dr Abigail Gilmore — How research can support better arts and culture policy

Contribution, Policy, Politics

Perspectives and observations for future cultural/arts policy

By PJ Collins — It’s an interesting, if somewhat dismal, exercise to look at our perspective on future cultural/arts policy and then make educated guesses and observations on what Australians are actually going to get in the foreseeable future. Let’s start with the exciting one.

Contribution, Performing Arts, Policy

The MPA Framework and the Culture of Cultural Funding

By Professor Peter Tregear — Any complete assessment of Australian arts and cultural policy needs to consider the effectiveness of the systems of funding that stem from it. Deciding what, and who, gets funded and what does not is, after all, where policy principle most conspicuously becomes practice.

Canada, Contribution, Policy

Creative Paradox: Is Giving Money to Artists Political Suicide?

By Dr Patrick Finn — Recently, I had a front row seat for a profoundly instructive story about Art and arts policy. I have worked as an artist, arts educator and sometimes policy-maker for more than thirty years. Something that just happened in Canada, shook my world to the core.

Contribution, Health and Wellbeing, Mental Health, Policy

Protecting and enhancing the wellbeing of artists and students

By Eileen Siddins — In the past few years, published reports have indicated concerning trends in creative artist mental health. For example, five Australian entertainment industry workers attempt death by suicide every week, [1] with those in the entertainment industry experiencing depression symptoms five times higher [2] than the general population (Eynde, Fisher & Sonn, 2016).

Contribution, Policy, Prioritisation, Visual Arts

Arts and culture priorities? Academic leadership in a policy vacuum

By Esther Anatolitis — A nation’s cultural policy is its most confident document.

Contribution, Policy, Youth

A national arts and cultural emergency for young Australians

By Associate Professor Sandra Gattenhof — When we look at the Australian cultural landscape not everyone’s story has a place within the cultural conversation. Scott Rankin’s recent Platform Paper Cultural Justice and the Right to Thrive is a powerful and timely tale for this time.

Contribution, Neoliberal Agenda, Policy

Tied to the mast: Unlocking a new cultural understanding

By Professor Justin O’Connor — There’s little doubt now: the arts in Australia are in a full-blown crisis. And it is not about funding alone.

NiTRO + Creative Matters