Friday 28 December 2007

A summary of the campaign

March 1996

The Howard Government is elected to federal office for its first term. It denounces the arts as elitist and artists as elitists. (see What to do with an elitist stinkbomb?)

A mandatory artists’ fee payed to artists exhibiting in public art galleries — introduced in 1983 by the Australia Council as the result of intense lobbying by the Artworkers Union — is scrapped. (see Let’s knock knees and talk fees: Proposition no. 1 )

July 2001

Alarm bells alert the federal government of the dire poverty under which visual artists practice here in Australia, as statistical information emerges that contradicts the blatant and still, to this day, damaging prejudice against artists with which the Howard Government took office. The cultural environment — far from elitist — is instead found to be troublingly impoverished. To its credit the federal government launches a landmark examination of visual arts and craft in Australia chaired by Rupert Myer (the Myer Inquiry) and admits that, “Visual arts and craft are major contributors to Australian culture and the Australian economy, yet at the same time, visual artists and craftspeople are amongst the lowest income earners in Australia.

September 2002

The resulting Myer Report makes 20 recommendations to counter the impoverished state of visual artists and craftspeople. Recommendation number one calls for the reinstatement of the mandatory artists’ fee by the Australia Council: ‘The Australia Council should recognise the importance of artists’ fees … by formulating an appropriate schedule of fees. Funding needs to be made available … to pay fees to artists’.

December 2003

The federal government makes public its response to the Myer Report. Of the $9 million per annum called for by the report, the resulting contribution by the federal government is $6 million per annum, only. No funds are assigned to the payment of fees to artists as requested in recommendation one. (see the then Premier Bob Carr’s message )

In total, including the matching contributions made by the States and Territories, $39 million is injected into the sector as a result of the Myer Report. Of this amount no financial contribution is made to enable the mandatory acknowledgement of visual artists through a fee that will effectively counter the derogatory status visual artists undergo in the broader Australian community; a derisive status that directly impedes on their ability to secure the same sort of economic certainty as fellow Australians. Instead of attending to this unhealthy status through an acknowledgement fee, the federal government allocates nearly all the money it injects into the sector to ‘infrastructure’. (see things still true today )

Artists — whose poverty is the cause of the Inquiry in the first place — receive basically nothing from the Myer Report. (see Hardly a baby bonus!)

July 2004

Artists mount the ‘Visual artists say no to nothing but yes to acknowledgement’ campaign. The campaign calls upon the federal government to properly address recommendation one of the Myer Report by contributing the missing $3 million per annum to the payment of a mandatory artists’ acknowledgement fee — based on a fee schedule of no less than $2,000 for a solo exhibition in a public gallery.

August 2004

Visual artists and supporters SIT-IN to STAND UP for contemporary visual art in Australia, in a number of major public art galleries throughout the nation.

October 2004

The Howard Government is returned to parliament for a fourth term.

November 2004

The campaign’s THE STARVING VISUAL ARTIST put the cliché to rest PETITION is tabled in federal parliament by Tanya Plibersek MP (Member for Sydney).

RESULT

In Labor’s 2004 arts policy it writes: “Labor recognises the importance of proper acknowledgement of artists and proper payment for exhibition of their work in federally funded public art spaces. This was a position formally mandated by the Australia Council prior to 1997.

Labor will consult with the National Association of Visual Arts (NAVA), the Australia Council, and other relevant stakeholders to investigate reinstatement of proposed minimum mandated payments of artists' fees.

Labor will look at current funding levels resulting from the Report of the Contemporary Visual Arts and Craft Inquiry and act to ensure that all the recommendations of the Myer Review are implemented."

The Labor party in 2004 took heed of our call. Our campaign, to this extent, has been a great success.

In response to our campaign a number of major public art galleries in Australia raised their fees. We appreciate the curators who informed us of this increase and for making a direct response to the campaign in this way. Regrettably, however, some fees were only raised to the out-of-date fee schedule proposed by NAVA (a fee schedule that has not been properly maintained and, as a consequence, does a disservice to visual artists — even though it is a relief that NAVA has kept the schedule aloft rather than let it fall completely buried). Nevertheless this is a marked increase from what, in some instances, was only $200 beforehand.

This, however, is the good news. And yet it is important to remember that these increases were voluntary, only, and entirely due to the pressure exerted by this campaign on art administrations that, most thankfully, honoured it as best they could. Without this pressure this would not have happened. This campaign will not be around forever. Its recourses are negligible, if not in deficit from the beginning, for which reason it cannot be depended upon to ensure a fairness to artists. All art administrations, no matter how sympathetic — even those that advocate for visual artists — missed the crucial point of this campaign prior to it. They, therefore, cannot be relied upon to speak from an artist's perspective that may be at odds with their own when they, themselves, as administrators are also vying for the same funds to improve the management of their own operations. This is not, at all, to admonish the proper remuneration for art management, especially as wage rates within this field are often markedly less than comparable duties and qualifications in other professions. And although these positions offer the income security that artists lack (as do other small business people), those who fulfil these positions have often to rely upon their own virtuous diligence beyond the call of duty (and payment), to get their daily tasks done. 

Nevertheless it is important to note that a conflict of interest does exist, especially as 'performance indicators' exclude the proper payment of artists, while they include the number of exhibitions mounted and the degree of professionalism in doing so, and the number of the general public who visit (a number enhanced by the degree of professionalism). Within this taut environment something, obviously, has to give — or should I say someone (the artist) has to give. (see things still true today 

Where the 'has to' part is the problem, no matter the abundant generosity artists continually proffer at the detriment of their own livelihoods and ability to provide food not only for their families, but for themselves. The 'has to' part is ethically problematic in that the beneficiary of this 'forced giving' is the general public whether or not the public gallery it visits is under federal, state or local government jurisdiction. It is ultimately, therefore, under the behest of the federal government of the day that an Australian general public becomes the beneficiaries of the 'forced giving' or, in more common language, the exploitation of artists. 

For this reason it is crucial that legislation is passed in federal parliament that protects the vulnerability of artists. No matter how sympathetic an art administrator might be, they are first and foremost an art administrator who will, consequently, ensure the security of their own position at the unwelcomed expense of artists (what do they say in airplanes '… make sure you secure your own oxygen mask at times of danger before helping your infant with theirs’, where, unfortunately, artists fall into the ‘infant’ category). This is not criticism: one cannot assist another if they are in danger themselves. Nevertheless the fallibility of priorities such as this have to be recognised so that a suitable structure can be devised to overcome the unethical position it leaves public galleries and the federal government in as a result, a suitable structure that will compensate for the vulnerable position artists are 'forced' to work in if they are to maintain a credible practice.

This, therefore, is the bad news.

Within the climate of ‘Work Choices’ legislation introduced by the Howard Government in its fourth and (as it now turns out) final term — legislation that effectively endeavoured to eradicate an equitable basic wage in Australia — it is no wonder our call for a basic artists’ acknowledgement fee went unheeded.

To this extent it is possible to say that a mandatory artists’ fee — through its abolishment in 1996 when the Howard Government first came to office — was the first casualty of legislation still to be formulated and passed in parliament in proceeding years.

To the Howard Government’s credit, it did face the prejudice against artists with which it initially approached government and, in finding that visual artists were far from elitist, mounted an inquiry.

With much regret, however, the instigating impetus that drove the inquiry in the first instance was ignored in the final result. Hence the observation made by many media commentators of the Howard Government that if ever it wanted to ignore a problem, it mounted an Inquiry.

When the problem, however — as clearly identified by the Howard government — is a sector of our society who “are major contributors to Australian culture and the Australian economy, yet at the same time … are amongst the lowest income earners in Australia”, then ignoring the problem is not only unjust but also inhumane.

It is nonetheless the predisposition of a federal government more intent on serving its ideology than its people.

For not only does the lack of acknowledgement of our contemporary artists here in Australia make it much more difficult for their achievements to be internationally recognised (why should anyone else recognise our artists if we don’t?) and, thereby, disable Australia in taking its place in an international dialogue (one, for instance, that is read in international art magazines); but this lack of acknowledgement more insidiously robs us Australians of the potential of our own imagination being made perceivable through a rich dialogue that awaits us here — a dialogue between ourselves.

The only question that now remains is whether the Rudd Government will unleash this potential by recognising that visual artists were the first to fall foul of the ideology that later fashioned the Work Choices legislation.

To ensure the rights of artists are not eroded by the unavoidable corrosion of art bureaucracies no matter how sympathetic, legislation must be passed in parliament to protect the vulnerability of artists in Australia.

The Rudd Government can do this by legislating in parliament a mandatory artists acknowledgement fee based on a schedule of no less that $2,000 per solo exhibition (a schedule to be properly maintained unlike before, see knock Knees: proposition 3  ).

Importantly, though, this legislation must rest on the Myer stipulation that money must also be specifically earmarked for the payment of this fee. The Rudd Government must make available the $3 million per annum initially kept back by the federal government to pay this basic fee. It, and the accompanying legislation, will form the necessary bridge by which we can reach an awaiting dialogue that will give meaning to contemporary art practice here in Australia for practitioners and, most importantly, the general public; a bridge the ideology of the former federal government prevented that government from building.

2008

This bridge now awaits being built by the Rudd Government as it readdresses the Work Choices legislation, the nascence of which a basic acknowledgement fee for artists fell so foul of.

Gail Hastings

 

Monday 26 November 2007

A farewell to former prime minister John Howard

It felt mighty fine to wake yesterday morning in federal Labor land (see Phillip Coorey).

Yet this remark little captures the magnitude of the occasion. I am tempted to underline it with the dark lead of a 6B pencil by saying it is as though our nation has finally woken from a deep sleep of over eleven years that preyed upon the twisted stuntedness of thought’s deep-seated fears — socially, environmentally, culturally, artistically — that fair reason chose not to straighten out in the light of day. (Better expressed elsewhere, see for example
Paul Keating).

Many, I am sure, would expect nothing less than this being said on a campaign blog of this nature.

But to underline my opening remark with a 6B pencil this way — a very unsharpened smudgy one too, I might add, to give bolder emphasis — would be to use an instrument unable to render some of the finely nuanced detail of this campaign. Detail that I little expected to encounter upon commencing to work on it, indeed detail that will undoubtedly appear anathema to it.

For although I have spent many a word on this blog outlining John Howard’s unjustness towards visual artists, to do so I have had to develop a healthy regard for the previous government’s position — even though I opposed it. To do otherwise would have been to treat the previous government as a black hole into which one casts one’s own disappointments in life to take issue with — without measure — rather than constructively deal with the particular matter at hand.

This will sound strange given artists and their close associates are perhaps better known for punctuating any discussion on John Howard with a vehemently pronounced ‘evil’ being expressed nearly every third or fourth word.

Nevertheless I sincerely wish John Howard well in his departure from being prime minister. Even though the electorate’s decision last Saturday will be proven the right decision with every passing month of the Rudd government, once the dust settles many will remember the affection they once held for John Howard — and rightfully so.

Gail Hastings
26/11/2007

Friday 16 November 2007

JOHN STRINGER

With sadness we learn today of John Stringer’s death (see Curator of expertise and vision in The Australian).

My thoughts go to his family, especially the Brisbane based photographer Richard Stringer who introduced me to his brother some years ago.

John Stringer will be remembered well in the history of Australian contemporary art - deservedly.

May John Stringer’s keen engagement that never grew tired over his lengthy career in visual art, continue to inspire many.

Condolences to all who feel his loss. Especially those in the Perth art community.

Gail Hastings

16/11/2007





Wednesday 3 October 2007

Election time: Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose, In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes …

by Gail Hastings


While recently stricken with tonsillitis, fevered by memories of its torturous infliction suffered in early childhood, I immersed myself in the music that surrounded me back then — such as my father’s collection of Johnny Cash. 

As I lay in the miasma of consciousness’ twilight zone that flickered between pain, sleep and the dread of flickering between them all over again — a ‘Man in Black’ suddenly stepped from the dark shadows of Vietnam relevancy into the uncanny currency of the Iraq war. A coincidence prompted by Johnny Cash ’s melodious rumble as he sings, “I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been — Each week we lose a hundred fine young men”. 

And while I read in the daily news of ‘a march by thousands of protesters demanding an end to the Iraq war [that] turned chaotic near the US Capitol, where … police arrested almost 200 people, including [Iraq] war veterans’, the cavernous voice of Johnny Cash strode gloriously higher to declare, “And, I wear it for the thousands who have died, Believen' that the Lord was on their side”; before gravelly letting fall that he wears black “for another hundred thousand who have died, Believen' that we all were on their side…”.

Similarities abound. Yet the potency of this song’s relevancy is not only due to the Iraq war. Very soon  a federal election will be announced; when we may very well ask where is the person in black. 

For although our nation will perhaps suffer a deathly dose of tonsillitis if forced to swallow the Howard governments so-called ‘clean’ nuclear option, it is not this that will hijack the last days of commentary before our vote is cast. No it will be, of course, the economy; just in case we didn’t already know that we are supposedly “doin' mighty fine … In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes —  But …”. 

And there is a ‘but’ at this point in the song, one best heard from the man in black, himself, as he tells us why he wears the things he’s got on … 


Albeit moving — a part of me, I have to admit, is a little incredulous that I find a ‘Man in Black’ so relevant today – tonsillitis or no tonsillitis. For who, in a supposedly booming economy where very few — if one believes the government’s unemployment figures — are left behind, are the forgotten that need remembering by a person in black? 

When we look for the forgotten we find a successful economy. An economy that would be a misnomer to label insignificant in the real tally of things, when for many it is in fact the economy that allows a necessary tally of things. 

Could the issue, then, be that of drawing a distinction between a false and a true economy rather than one of whether the economy is the most important election issue or not? For both a false and a true economy may appear to facilitate the growth of money on the surface at first, even though one creates a deficit while the other creates a fertile abundance. 

A false economy, for instance, could be thought of as divisive for generating unbridgeable oppositions between, say, employers and employees based on a master and slave type of relationship (see article Work more, Earn less). When instead a true economy paves a reconciliatory common ground for a wide open road; where exchange between opposites, based on mutual recognition and mutual benefit, can be thought of as cohesive for generating a burgeoning knowledge that fuels progressive (and potentially planet saving) developments in technology, research and society. 

How, then, might we tell the difference between a false and a true economy when both appear the same on the surface at first? 

Perhaps the telltale is whether opposites are manipulated to extract benefit for one side at the expense of the other side. When preferably a reconciliation between opposites would allow for the productive distinction of both sides while, at the same time, allowing for a prosperous unity, too.

For as soon as opposites are manipulated and split asunder so no rhyme nor reason can determine a reasonable relation between them, then cause and effect can be twisted beyond the call of justice. In which case the unreasonable rules. 

In this way we might see how the plight of indigenous Australians has somehow been twisted to become not the effect of a wrong but the cause of another far weightier injustice — our guilt, according to our Prime Minister; which should be abolished at all cost, it seems. Even at the expense of not properly recognising indigenous Australians.

Or the plight of a foolishly errant David Hicks. Having fallen victim to the denial of his rights as an Australian citizen when our government refused to appeal the lack of proper legal procedures by the US, David Hicks' plight was somehow twisted to become not the effect but the cause of a loss of rights — our rights, not his — as though he were secretly the masterful right-hand-man of Osama bin Laden.

And again quite infamously in October 2001, when asylum seekers in waters off Christmas Island were the victims of a sinking boat, they too where somehow twisted into becoming perpetrators, instead, who — it was erroneously claimed by our Prime Minister at the time — threw children overboard to save themselves. 

Incidences such as these over the course of the Howard government tend to suggest that opposites are being twisted into a false economy here in Australia — not a true one. 

Or in the words of a more contemporary tune by The White Stripes — 'Effect and Cause' (2007): 
“Well, in every complicated situation of a human relation — Makin' sense of it all takes a whole lot of concentration, mmm — Well, you can't blame a baby for her pregnant ma — And if there's one of these unavoidable laws — It's that you just can't take the effect and make it the cause — No”.


… I ain't the reason that you gave me no reason to return your call — You built a house of cards and got shocked when you saw them fall, heh — Yeah, well, I ain't sayin' I'm innocent, in fact, the reverse — But if you're headed to the grave, you don't blame the hearse — You're like a little girl yellin' at her brother 'cause you lost his ball

Well, you keep blamin' me for what you did, but that ain't all — The way you clean up a wreck is enough to give one pause, yeah! — Well, you seem to forget just how this all started — I'm reactin' to you because you left me broken-hearted — See, you just can't take the effect and make it the cause …”

And so when election time draws near and the arteries of political commentary become clogged, as they did last time, by one issue and one issue only — the economy — maybe we, the electorate, can instigate movement by asking whether the economy on offer is a false or true one. 

At which point, whether fevered by tonsillitis or not, you might also wish to draw comfort from hearing someone sing: 
“Well, there's things that never will be right I know — And things need changin' everywhere you go — But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right — You'll never see me wear a suit of white.

Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day — And tell the world that everything's OK — But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back — 'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.”





Peter Garrett interviewed by Virginia Trioli


In preparation for ‘Your Shout’ tonight, please find below a transcript-extract from an interview between the Shadow Minister for the Arts, Peter Garrett, and Virginia Trioli screened on the ABC’s ‘Sunday Arts’  on 25.03.2007.


I have extracted the parts most relevant to the Visual Arts.

As you will read, it is encouraging to note that discrepancies in the Howard government’s application of the Myer Recommendations have been recognised and will be addressed — Peter Garrett says — by a Labor Government.

This is already a very good sign. As indeed, much that Peter Garrett says suggests he is well informed. 

As for the question to be asked tonight:

Will a Labor government put forward and pass legislation that enforces the payment of a mandatory artists’ acknowledgement fee of no less than $2000 by public art institutions? And, in order to pay this fee, will a Labor Government make available an additional $3 million per annum?

Without doing this a Labor Government will not be addressing Recommendation One of the Myer report in which case — in terms of visual artists — there will be little difference between a Labor and a Howard Government. Recommendation One is recommendation number one. No matter how many other recommendations might finally be addressed, they will not in any way compensate for any lack in this first. One isn’t One for nothing.

But as for the question, if anyone can manage to get to their feet to ask it before me — then please, do. Gail Hastings




Interview between the Shadow Minister for the Arts, Peter Garrett, and Virginia Trioli screened on the ABC’s ‘Sunday Arts’  on 25.03.2007




VIRGINIA TRIOLI: You've accused the Howard Government of being made up of philistines when it comes to art in Australia. It's a little bit rough, isn't it, and possibly not quite accurate when you look back over what the Howard Government has done in its time in office. There's been the Strong report into the state of orchestras, the Nugent report into performing arts, the Myer report into the visual arts industry. They've not really sat on their hands and been that much of a bunch of philistines, have they? 

PETER GARRETT: Well, my point about philistines in the Howard Government was about the lack of strong senior advocates for arts and for the Australian artistic community generally. 

VIRGINIA TRIOLI: You mean, you don't hear members of the Government out and about talking about the importance of culture or art in Australia? 

PETER GARRETT: Generally you don't. I mean, some do. But I was thinking specifically that the Prime Minister, the Treasurer, senior ministers - other than those that have the portfolio areas of responsibility - quite often seen at sporting events, quite often celebrating our sporting excellence, you know, clearly and I think rightly, a recognition of the military contribution people make in the country, but very rarely do we see a real espousal in a public way, public declarations, not at the events, of the great contribution that the arts have and that artists can make to Australia, and in fact the way in which artists shape who we are as people. 

VIRGINIA TRIOLI: Well, maybe the discussion's not needed when you're applying it practically in terms of those reports and those reconsiderations that I mentioned just before, by Myer and Nugent and Strong. Do you concede they've at least paid some proper systematic attention to what's needed in those areas of the arts? 

PETER GARRETT: Myer and Nugent were both important, but we haven't seen all the recommendations of Myer in particular enacted. But in terms of the actual vitality of the arts sector, what we really have at the moment is in some ways trying to maintain a semblance of stasis in a sector which always struggles for money and always needs extra resources, and where there are many demands. And you need to do more than just have reports and reviews. You need to actually proclaim, loudly and clearly, that your vision for Australia includes resoundingly supporting Australia's creative community and recognising that artists are gonna play an absolutely vital role, not only in the culture of the country but in the economy of the country. 

VIRGINIA TRIOLI: Then you need to back up with money. Is that what you would do if the Labor Party won government at the next federal election? Would all of those recommendations of those reports that we mentioned, would they be implemented? In full, as originally recommended by the authors? 

PETER GARRETT: Well, we'd certainly look closely at what Myer recommended and have a close look... 

VIRGINIA TRIOLI: With the visual arts? 

PETER GARRETT: Yeah, that's right - the visual arts. Nugent, we'd look at it again. I think the task of government is not necessarily to say we're gonna spend more money. Obviously I would like us to do that, but that's a decision that has to be made formally at a later date. I do think that we've got the capacity to harness more investment for the arts, particularly from the public sector and the private sector. 

VIRGINIA TRIOLI: So how do you make it more attractive, then, for those individuals or organisations, privately, to do that? 

PETER GARRETT: Well, you can look at tax arrangements... 

VIRGINIA TRIOLI: Is that what you're considering at the moment? 

PETER GARRETT: We will look at some tax arrangements. 

VIRGINIA TRIOLI: Do you care to elaborate on what those tax arrangements might be, Peter Garrett? 

PETER GARRETT: Virginia, we'll have a close look at them, we've got a discussion paper out there, we're taking feedback and we'll release policy as we go forward to the election. 

VIRGINIA TRIOLI: This is like interviewing the Treasurer in the lead-up to the budget. 

PETER GARRETT: (Laughs) It's a tough seat sitting in this seat. 

VIRGINIA TRIOLI: Yeah. Of course. But tax is everything and to give him his due, you have to say that the previous arts minister, Rod Kemp, did make some headway on that in relation to the... advantages that could be gained from the tax office if you invested in certain aspects of cultural production in this county. Do you give Rod Kemp his due for that? 

PETER GARRETT: I do give the former minister some credit for... beginning that process. It's some way to go, though. 


VIRGINIA TRIOLI: Going from the organisations now down to the personal. Rod Kemp, again, the former arts minister, did make some taxation reform in headway there in allowing artists to claim expenses against all forms of income as artists. Has that gone far enough or would you like to take that further? 

PETER GARRETT: There's a dollar limit on for the capacity for people to do that which I think needs to be looked at. There's another issue, though, that's really important, Virginia, and that is we've got quite a lot of young digital entrepreneurs and creative entrepreneurs doing very well. But we've got a huge body of people who are still on incredibly meagre incomes. There needs to be, I think, much more attention given to the capacity of people to come in and out of the welfare situation, which quite often is the case for artists - to be able to teach part-time, to work as sessional staff in universities, to be teachers and residents in schools. And also for us to look at the social welfare arrangements to see whether the activity that's constituted as activity that's appropriate and fulfils the guidelines, which is, say, for example, going off and organising your own exhibition if you're an artist and making sure you're getting sponsors and organising everything can actually qualify. So it's... 

VIRGINIA TRIOLI: So you don't lose your benefits or get kicked off the system? 

PETER GARRETT: Yeah, that's right. 

VIRGINIA TRIOLI: How do you think the Australia Council is functioning? Does that need to be reformed under a Labor Government? 

PETER GARRETT: What we've said is we believe there's an important and necessary role for a stand-alone body like the Australia Council to do what it does. I certainly support the Australia Council fully in that role. We also believe there are a whole range of ancillary issues. Some to do with the bureaucratisation of... the grants process and the way the boards are constituted that needs to be looked at. I think, importantly, though, we're also interested in looking at whether or not the Department should be acting as a promoter and a driver of programs or whether it's the AC that should be doing it. Because at the moment we've got the Australia Council doing some things and we've got the Department, with visions and touring Australia and so on, doing others. 

VIRGINIA TRIOLI: Are you suspicious of a Department driven program, cultural program? Do you think it's not where that sort of thinking should come from? 

PETER GARRETT: The Department should be thinking about culture and arts, of course. It's just whether or not the programs should be executed through the Department or not. 

VIRGINIA TRIOLI: You mentioned those on the Government side who you see as having the beliefs of philistines or behaving like philistines in relation to the arts in Australia, or at least not going out and volubly advocating on their behalf. So who are the arts advocates in a Rudd cabinet? Who are your art supporters? 

PETER GARRETT: I think, Lindsay Tanner's someone who's obviously spoken about it and supports the arts, and there's myself. Kevin hasn't had an opportunity, I think, in the period of time he's been Opposition Leader to actually go out and see too much art and culture. But I'm absolutely sure that he will. 

VIRGINIA TRIOLI: You don't need to wait to be asked. Is that it? Is that...the list that we can come up with today? 

PETER GARRETT: Oh, look, there'd be others as well. 

VIRGINIA TRIOLI: Well, I mean, that's an important point, though. If you're going to posit that the potential Labor Government is going to be difficult or present a different view compared to the Government, you'll need to have your advocates in place. 

PETER GARRETT: I think that the leader of the country and the alternative leader as well, in this case... You need to hear from them about what they think about the arts community and our arts endeavour generally. 

VIRGINIA TRIOLI: There's a risk with that, though, isn't there, Peter Garrett? Because I know you mentioned in a speech some time ago that there are those who believe that Paul Keating's very obvious and clear attachment to the arts was in part responsible for his electoral demise. So do you need to be aware of, and cautious, about that? 

PETER GARRETT: Well, I think that the contribution Mr Keating made particularly in terms of the arts was an immense one. And I think that history will judge him very, very kindly for that. The fact that we ended up with a debate about the so-called 'elites', a debate which was really fuelled by the then Opposition and certainly by this Government, was terribly regrettable. Because since when has this idea of singing or dancing or producing sculpture or putting on a play become an activity only for the elites? We've got large numbers of Australians that go to museums, large numbers of Australians that go to performances, large number of Australians in rural and regional Australia who love their theatre, who love their art, who find their local gallery to be a place of great solace and they're very proud of it. That was a false debate, it was a distractive false debate. And I hope we've moved well, well past that. 


The entire transcript can be read at Sunday Arts





“Your Shout” - Sydney



Arts Forum with Peter Garrett, Shadow Federal Arts Minister

Date: Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007
Time: 5pm – 6.30pm
Location: The New Theatre
Street: 542 King Street, Newtown.

Your Shout is a free forum for artists, arts workers and arts supports to express their views to Peter directly on issues they feel are important for the arts in Australia.
 
PLEASE RSVP to Alex Broun at abroun@bigpond.net.au

2/10/2007