Arts Minister, Senator Rod Kemp today refused to explain why hundreds of thousands of regional people have had their access to the arts unjustifiably cut under the latest round of Playing Australia grants.
The Howard Government is blatantly discriminating against regional centres, with funded productions reduced from 26 down to 13, with nearly 50 regional centres being negatively affected.
Because of these cuts, dozens of regional performing arts centres across Australia are reeling, as their subscription seasons have been decimated. Many are now faced with financial uncertainty as a result of the Howard Government’s mismanagement and flawed priorities.
Playing Australia grants are supposed to provide the means for quality performing arts productions to tour around Australia. Playing Australia grants cover the costs associated with travel and freight, with priority usually given to rural and regional areas.
Quality productions such as Bell Shakespeare Company’s regional tour of A Midsummer Nights Dream, and La Boite Theatre’s production of Zig Zag Street, which planned to tour over 20 regional centres, have been left unfunded.
I call on the Minister for the Arts, Senator Kemp to fix this problem and restore the regional focus of Playing Australia
Please find attached a list of affected towns and performing arts venues and the Hansard from Senate Question Time.
Media contact: Adina Cirson – (02) 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295
