National Day of Action for the Arts
Peak arts bodies, small to medium arts organisations and a group of independent artists known as The Protagonists, together have called a National Day of Action on Friday 17 June 2016 in support of the arts. Wollongong Theatre Company is joining with them in asking artists and arts-lovers across Australia to voice their support for the arts and its importance to our society.
According to a recent report released by the Australia Council for the Arts (Arts Nation: An Overview of Australian Arts, 2015), Australia's cultural sector contributes $50 billion towards the country’s GDP including over $4.2 billion from the arts, and attracts more than two million international tourists a year.
Stuart Cunningham and Peter Higgs analysed 2006 Australian Census data (What’s Your Other Job? A census analysis of arts employment in Australia, 2010) and found there were 109,160 people employed in the arts (1.2% of all Australian employment). They also acknowledged this doesn’t take into account the numbers of people volunteering in the arts or participating in the arts in other ways.
But aside from the economic benefits of a vibrant arts sector, what else do artists contribute to society? I came across a wonderful book earlier this year, Making Your Life as an Artist, by Andrew Simonet, published through an organisation called “Artists U”. Andrew compares artists with scientists. He writes
"Just like scientists, we begin with a question, something we don’t know... Like scientists, at the end of our research, we share the results with the public and with our peers… Artists know that if we join the thousands of artists asking rigorous questions, the world will change...The scientific method and the artistic process are the two most robust problem- solving methodologies ever developed. Take either one away, and our world would be unrecognizable... These two methods work on different things. The scientific method works on material questions. The artistic process works on questions of culture, questions of thought. And today, especially in the “developed world,” many of our toughest problems are questions of thought and culture. Artists are the only people who contribute new knowledge to the cultural realm … That is a sacred responsibility. We live in a time when we are inundated by images: pictures, language, videos, stories, music, bodies. 99% of those images are made for one reason: to get you to buy something. We artists are responsible for that tiny sliver of images that can be made for every other possible reason: cultural, spiritual, political, emotional. In an age of image overload, this is a sacred responsibility."
Sadly, the last two federal budgets have seen a reduction of $300m dollars in government investment in the cultural sector including to the Australia Council for the Arts, screen and gaming sectors and major cultural institutions.
On 13 May this year, 50% of the previously supported small to medium arts companies did not receive four-year core funding for their operations as a result of funding cuts to the Australia Council. These organisations and independent artists are the backbone of the arts in Australia, generating new ideas, new artistic works, and cultivating new artistic talent. Artists are key innovators in our nation! The flow-on effects of these cuts will be felt across Australia’s cultural industries, educational institutions and the commercial sector.
Here's how you can support the arts on the National Day of Action on 17 June until election day on 2 July:
Sign the petition created by the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA)
Get on social media and post about your support with #istandwiththearts and #ausvotesarts and change your Facebook cover photo to the campaign’s “Art Changes Lives” picture (featured in this blog post)
Write an email or letter of support for the arts to your local candidates in the upcoming federal election
Write to the current federal Arts Minister: minister@communications.gov.au to express your support and concerns for the arts
Vote for the candidates you consider to have the best arts policies on election day
