Australia's art, culture and entertainment industries are a reflection of who we are, where we have been and where will go.
The arts are an integral and important stage for a nation to showcase and express its culture, creativity and passion for life in a way that is accessible and enables the population to experience and feel these expressions in a collective, as well as personal way.
The importance of the arts should not be underestimated. Australia has been reflected though all aspects of the arts and it has made us a better nation.
The high reputation for quality of our arts was built over decades. In the 1970s and 1980s we saw the renaissance of our film industry, we saw the boom of our music scene and we showcased our country to the world to both commercial and artistic success.
Unfortunately, we have seen a waning of commitment from successive governments towards the arts. In a market place such as ours, government commitment is vital to propel our cultural talents to greater heights. Reliance upon the marketplace can bring with it insecurities that can leave a creative industry struggling for decades.
The AWP commits itself to advocating for the arts community. We see the value, culturally and commercially of sustaining supports to the arts.
We also want to see the marketplace do the right thing for our performers, artists and technicians. We propose sustained avenues of supports for contractual advice for those involved; fair rates of pay and greater education for people who are new to the arts industries, so they can have their rights at work protected by the union movement and the protections of workplace laws. In short, we do not want any worker in the arts community to be ripped off by unscrupulous operators who take advantage of creative passion and skill.
We would also support:
- greater scrutiny of overseas investors and producers to maintain the integrity of local employment opportunities in foreign investment projects. Quotas for Australian talent or skills are important to maintain opportunities and expertise building.
- a greater commitment to financial supports for local projects through grants systems, government loans and project buy-ins and financial advisories for arts related projects.
- better guidance, education and training for funded arts councils and advisory bodies so they can be better able to support the arts.
- better educational supports for students of the arts; in conjunction with mainstream education funding, we would advocate for subsidies and scholarships for exceptional talent and ideas.
- greater supports to Indigenous artists in relation to advise to protect commercial integrity and creative rights; to maintain the integrity between artistic success and commercial success.
- increased funding for new technologies in the arts field, including research grants for projects to expand opportunities in new directions.
- a social audit to ascertain the value to the Australian community and economy of our arts industry. This would help map out needs and government assistance planning in financial terms and would also reflect the true societal and cultural value of our arts community.
The arts are an integral and important stage for a nation to showcase and express its culture, creativity and passion for life in a way that is accessible and enables the population to experience and feel these expressions in a collective, as well as personal way.
The importance of the arts should not be underestimated. Australia has been reflected though all aspects of the arts and it has made us a better nation.
The high reputation for quality of our arts was built over decades. In the 1970s and 1980s we saw the renaissance of our film industry, we saw the boom of our music scene and we showcased our country to the world to both commercial and artistic success.
Unfortunately, we have seen a waning of commitment from successive governments towards the arts. In a market place such as ours, government commitment is vital to propel our cultural talents to greater heights. Reliance upon the marketplace can bring with it insecurities that can leave a creative industry struggling for decades.
The AWP commits itself to advocating for the arts community. We see the value, culturally and commercially of sustaining supports to the arts.
We also want to see the marketplace do the right thing for our performers, artists and technicians. We propose sustained avenues of supports for contractual advice for those involved; fair rates of pay and greater education for people who are new to the arts industries, so they can have their rights at work protected by the union movement and the protections of workplace laws. In short, we do not want any worker in the arts community to be ripped off by unscrupulous operators who take advantage of creative passion and skill.
We would also support:
- greater scrutiny of overseas investors and producers to maintain the integrity of local employment opportunities in foreign investment projects. Quotas for Australian talent or skills are important to maintain opportunities and expertise building.
- a greater commitment to financial supports for local projects through grants systems, government loans and project buy-ins and financial advisories for arts related projects.
- better guidance, education and training for funded arts councils and advisory bodies so they can be better able to support the arts.
- better educational supports for students of the arts; in conjunction with mainstream education funding, we would advocate for subsidies and scholarships for exceptional talent and ideas.
- greater supports to Indigenous artists in relation to advise to protect commercial integrity and creative rights; to maintain the integrity between artistic success and commercial success.
- increased funding for new technologies in the arts field, including research grants for projects to expand opportunities in new directions.
- a social audit to ascertain the value to the Australian community and economy of our arts industry. This would help map out needs and government assistance planning in financial terms and would also reflect the true societal and cultural value of our arts community.