By Renee Wood
The Federal Budget has seen a dip in arts and entertainment funding which has hit the hearts community organisations who feel neglected.
After a tough time for the sector it was hoped more support would be provided to improve the outcomes for many creatives to improve community resilience.
Arts and cultural development went from $159,134,000 last year to $20,348,000 due to the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) winding up, arts training dipped by $236,000, while film and television and Screen Australia also saw deduction in funding from last year’s budget.
Yarra Valley Arts CEO Kate Baker said a lack of funding opportunities for community based arts organisations shows there is ‘little value’ for arts as a whole.
“We have so many creative people living and creating, and it’s as if that’s not acknowledged as a valuable contribution to society,” Ms Baker said.
YAVA hasn’t received any federal funding in the past and receives philanthropic support and small portions of council and state funding opportunities.
Ms Baker said if the Federal Government supported more grass roots, community art groups it would help to shape a strong path forward for the sector – especially coming out of the pandemic.
“If we had state or federal funding that supports community arts organisations like ours then we would be able to provide an environment where the community could gather and share in the arts.
“There are so many side line benefits that benefit the overall health and wellbeing of society and economically.
“I think with the arts – it’s not transactional so it’s harder to measure in objective terms the value of it but I think that’s why the government struggles – but that’s not a good reason not to do it.”
YAVA has limited paid staff and volunteers, with 230 members and it provides support locally as a hub engaging with the community and profiling the rich talent based in the region.
Ms Baker would like to see funding that could help create more employment within YAVA, especially for young creatives.
“If we were fully funded by Federal Government we would be able to offer more employment opportunities for locals to develop skills.”
Many young people are having to travel out of the area for work opportunities, something YAVA has knowledge in through its mentorship program.
The program provided education to several mentees but Ms Baker said they are still travelling into the city for other opportunities in order to boost their careers and gain an income.
“If I could take on eight people a year then they could be part of the mentorship running a community arts organisation, providing transferable skills and it means they could learn here.”
Regional Arts also saw a drop in funds from over $18 million to $7.5 million although Regional Arts Victoria said it is pleased the Regional Arts Fund will again be supported.
“This support is at pre-COVID levels, with provision for indexation, noting that over the past two years, we have received additional one-off funding packages for Covid-19 response and recovery programs delivered through the RAF,” a spokesperson said.
“RAA will receive close to $3.7 million for the Regional Arts Fund in 2022-3, as part of a $22.5 million grant over the six years 2022-2027.”
The spokesperson for the not-for-profit advocacy group said it has received up to $15 million dollars from the Recovery Boost program and the Cultural Tourism Accelorator Program in 2020 and 2021 financial years.
“RAA has and will continue to advocate for increased, ongoing strategic investment in regional arts and culture.”
The Federal Arts Minister was contacted for comment.
