The Coalition has put community cultural activities on the backburner, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics today releasing findings that reveal the Commonwealth Governments funding of Community Cultural Activities has more than halved, falling from $53.3 million (2000-01) to $24.7 million (2001-02) a total of $28.6 million or a decrease of 53.6%.
This meanness is typical of the Howard Government, with the cuts directly affecting community arts programs which reach the most disenfranchised sectors of our society.
Community cultural activities provide hope, enjoyment and a sense of self for millions of Australians and deliver enormous social and economic benefits which target minority groups and the less well off.
I call on the Howard government to recognise the importance of community cultural activities to the social fabric of Australians and reinstate funding to the sectors of the Arts community which need it most.
Media contact: Adina Cirson ‑ (02) 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295
