Arts—policy (Question No 781)
Copyright : ACT Legislative Assembly website : http://www.hansard.act.gov.au/hansard/2017/week14/5509.htm
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Mrs Dunne asked the Minister for the Arts and Community Events, upon notice, on 27 October 2017:
(1) In relation to the answer to question on notice No E17-261, given the 2015 16 artsACT Strategic Plan expired more than one year ago, when was/will a new plan be (a) developed and (b) released.
(2) What process was/will be followed to develop the new plan.
(3) Did/will that process include an evaluation of the outcomes achieved under the 2015-16 plan; if not, why not.
(4) When will the 2015 ACT Arts Policy be updated.
(5) What process will be followed to update the policy.
(6) What are specific examples of the support and advice artsACT has provided to other government agencies in relation to their support for the arts in each of the previous two financial years.
(7) What are specific examples of advocacy artsACT has undertaken for inclusion of the arts in other areas of government in each of the previous two financial years.
(8) Why are there no measurable targets for ACT Government directorates and agencies in relation to the arts.
(9) Is the Government giving consideration to a strategy for inclusion of arts programs in other directorates and agencies; if not, why not; if so, what is the (a) scope and (b) timeline.
(10) In relation to the answer to part (6) of E17-261, what were the targets and outcomes for each of the dot points outlined in the answer.
(11) How does artsACT measure success in those areas if there were no targets.
(12) Is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) Agreement more than two years into its three-year currency; if so, (a) why are there as yet no specific programs and targets for ATSI arts and culture to be engaged in achieving health, justice and other social outcomes, (b) when will those programs and targets be developed and (c) what process will be followed in developing those programs and targets.
(13) How much funding was provided, in 2016-17, to (a) organisations and (b) individuals through (i) key arts organisations’ grants, (ii) program grants, (iii) project grants, (iv) arts residencies grants, (v) Community Outreach Program grants, (vi) Community Arts and Cultural Development grants, (vii) out-of-round grants, (viii) Llewellyn Hall grants, (ix) Book of the Year grants and (x) Fringe Festival grants.
(14) Has the artsACT internal budget for 2017-18 been finalised; if not, why not; if so, how much funding is allocated for (a) organisations and (b) individuals through (i) key arts organisations’ grants, (ii) program grants, (iii) project grants, (iv) arts residencies grants, (v) Community Outreach Program grants, (vi) Community Arts and Cultural Development grants, (vii) out-of-round grants, (viii) Llewellyn Hall grants, (ix) Book of the Year grants and (x) Fringe Festival grants.
(15) Are there any multi-year grant funding recipients who have funding increments calculated by any means other than consumer price index (CPI); if so, by what means are those increments calculated.
(16) Does the Government have scope to negotiate with funding recipients for increments by any means other than CPI; if so, (a) on what basis and (b) what criteria are followed in assessing non-CPI-based increments.
Mr Ramsay: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) a) The need for a specific strategic plan for artsACT has been overtaken by its incorporation into Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. As part of the new governance arrangements artsACT is currently working on a business plan which aligns to government strategic priorities.
- b) N/A
(2) N/A
(3) N/A
(4) There are no immediate plans to update the 2015 ACT Arts Policy, however once a Ministerial Advisory Mechanism has been established there will be an opportunity for the mechanism to guide any future work.
(5) There is no process in place, however once a Ministerial Advisory Mechanism has been established there will be an opportunity for the mechanism to guide any future work.
(6) artsACT provides advice and support across the ACT Government on a regular basis. Some examples include:
artsACT works closely with the Health Directorate and is a member of the Arts and Health Committee, which is chaired by the Health Directorate. In 2015, ACT Health and artsACT jointly commissioned an independent evaluation of the arts program at the Canberra Hospital as a pilot project. The Report on Art at the Canberra Hospital is available on the artsACT website http://www.arts.act.gov.au/community-participation/arts-and-health artsACT has also been providing advice to the Arts and Health Curator in regard to artwork at the new University of Canberra Public Hospital and on the engagement of an artist for a public artwork commission for the Canberra Hospital. artsACT has also provided advice on engagement with Ngunnawal artists.
artsACT has provided advice to the Justice and Community Safety Directorate regarding the inclusion of Ngunnawal Art and integrated public art in the new ACT Law Courts Precinct, the development of the Arts and Crafts Policy for the Alexander Maconochie Centre and advice about current programs and delivery of the annual exhibition.
artsACT has provided support in the establishment of networks between the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and Visit Canberra. Advice has also been provided to the Community Services Directorate on potential arts projects for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
artsACT regularly provides advice and support to Transport Canberra and City Services on the public artwork it manages. This includes advice on specialist suppliers to assist with artwork conservation.
In addition to the cross Directorate advice and support, within the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate, artsACT has provided support for the inclusion of local artists in promotional material for Floriade and assistance regarding potential programs at the National Arboretum. Furthermore, direct support to Events ACT was provided by managing public art exhibitions at Floriade 2016 and Floriade 2017. Advice was also provided to Treasury’s Civil Infrastructure and Capital Works team on the inclusion of public art as part of urban infrastructure at Molonglo.
(7) Some specific examples of advocacy artsACT has undertaken for inclusion of the arts in other areas of government include:
artsACT works closely with VisitCanberra in relation to promoting the arts sector in Canberra and advocating for inclusion of local content alongside content from National Cultural Institutions. artsACT has been liaising with relevant arts organisations to ensure that their activities are promoted via the VisitCanberra website. artsACT has also provided content for the 2018 Canberra Visitor Guide.
artsACT has strongly advocated for a number of visual arts organisations to be accommodated within the Kingston Arts Precinct development and is continuing this advocacy with the Suburban Land Agency as the project develops. Furthermore, artsACT has advocated for the consideration of arts spaces in the Woden Town Centre as part of Agency planning processes.
Consideration of spaces for arts activity in urban planning policy has been promoted by artsACT to the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate including as part of the strategic planning for the City and Gateway Corridor.
Investigations for cross directorate program opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders engaged in the arts. These discussions have included the Justice and Community Safety Directorate through the Alexander Maconochie Centre, ACT Health through the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm, Visit Canberra and Events ACT. artsACT has also liaised with and raised awareness of the arts through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultation Process, including with the Environment, Planning And Sustainable Development Directorate through ACT Heritage, Natural Resource Management and the Murumbung Ranger Programs.
artsACT has advocated for the inclusion of public art in the light rail project and has provided advice to Transport Canberra in this regard.
(8) It is standard practice for policy areas to have targets for their content responsibility. artsACT is responsible for achieving measureable targets in relation to the arts for the ACT Government.
(9) artsACT is continually working across Government on the inclusion of arts in other directorates and agencies. There has been no consideration of a formal strategy. This will be considered in business planning for artsACT noting that a scope and timeline has not yet been determined.
(10) The 2015-16 artsACT Strategic Plan detailed the measures of success against the principles outlined in the 2015 ACT Arts Policy. Principle three related to the vitality of the Canberra Region Arts Ecology. The measures of success against this principle were as follows:
- Number of people employed in the arts and cultural sector: There were 6,937 persons employed in the arts and cultural sector as their main job in the ACT in 2011 (Source: Census, Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011. 2016 Census data for cultural occupations has not been released yet.
- Number of businesses in the cultural sector: As of June 2014, the ACT had nearly 1,200 active businesses in the creative industries (Source: Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits, Australian Bureau of Statistics).
- Number of volunteers and estimated volunteer hours: Almost one third (76,500) of all people living in the ACT undertake some paid or unpaid work in culture and leisure activities (Source: Work in Selected Culture and Leisure Activities 2007, Australian Bureau of Statistics). In 2016, there were 773 volunteers at artsACT-funded organisations, who worked for approximately 40,000 hours (Source: artsACT SmartyGrants).
- Household expenditure on cultural items: Canberrans spend approximately $211 million per year on arts and culture, which is a higher per capita level than other capital cities (Source: Household Expenditure Survey 2009-10, Australian Bureau of Statistics).
Specific targets have not been determined, as the measures (such as increased number of people employed in the arts and culture sector) are not solely the responsibility of artsACT and are influenced by factors outside the control of Government.
(11) Specific targets have not been determined. Nevertheless, success is demonstrated through some of the figures available in the 2015 Economic Overview of the Arts Report including: the number of Canberrans employed in the arts and cultural sector as their primary occupation (almost 7000); nearly 1,200 active businesses in the creative industries operating in Canberra; and over 400,000 attendances at ACT Government funded arts organisations.
(12) (a) artsACT has focused on relationship building, gaining consensus and understanding the unique perspectives and activities of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through the release of the draft Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultation Report. artsACT is currently considering feedback received through this process ahead of engaging with community for the co-design of programs and targets which will consider health, justice and other social outcomes.
(b) These programs will be developed inside the 2017-2018 financial year.
(c) artsACT will establish an ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Network as a working group to consider the priorities identified through the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultation Report and engage with artsACT in a co-design process for new programs and targets.
This process supports commitments outlined in the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 2015-2018, and will assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’s to freely pursue social and cultural development in line with the right to self-determination.
(13) The funding provided in 2016-17 was:
Category Expenditure 2016-17 Key Arts Organisation $4,108,918 Program $473,690 Project (including screen) $563,469 Arts Residencies $56,000 Community Outreach $1,777,998 Community Arts and Cultural Development $273,328 Out of Round $22,453 Llewellyn Hall $37,559 Book of the Year $15,000 Fringe Festival $30,000 Detail on 2017 funding recipients can be found on the artsACT website https://www.arts.act.gov.au/funding/current-funding-recipients/act-arts-fund-2017
(14) Yes. The funding allocated is:
Category Budget 2017-18
Key Arts Organisation $4,179,000
Program $533,000 Project (including screen) $840,000
Arts Residencies $109,000
Community Outreach $1,813,000
Category Budget 2017-18
Community Arts and Cultural Development $363,944
Out of Round $25,000
Llewellyn Hall $42,000
Book of the Year $16,000
Fringe Festival $0 Detail on 2018
Project funding recipients can be found on the artsACT website https://www.arts.act.gov.au/funding/current-funding-recipients
(15) Yes, some Key Arts Organisations have received increases above CPI depending on the strength of their business plan against the assessment criteria, and the available budget.
(16) Yes, the organisational application process for Program organisations and Key Arts organisations provides an opportunity for the applicant to present a case for increments in funding levels above CPI, depending on the strength of their business plan against the assessment criteria, and the available budget.
The assessment criteria for Program organisations is:
- An organisation with a clearly defined role in the ACT arts sector which meets a community need.
- A high-quality program of activity that fosters artistic innovation and creative thinking and facilitates community participation in and access to the arts.
- Strong governance and administrative practices to deliver the proposed program.
- A justification of the budget, outlining a sound and sustainable financial position that represents value for money and includes a diversity of income.
The assessment criteria for Key Arts Organisations is:
- Contribution to the ACT’s critical arts infrastructure through provision of diverse high quality programs, services and facilities that are responsive to community needs and enable strong participation and access opportunities for the ACT community.
- Contribution to the artistic vibrancy and vitality of the ACT arts sector, demonstrated by programs and services that develop arts practices, encourage innovation, and foster creative thinking and collaboration.
- Demonstrated sustainable and sound financial position supported by a budget that represents value for money and includes a diversity of income sources.
- A board that provides strategic and expert governance and reflects a skill mix necessary to support the business of the organisation and should include appropriate representation in the key areas of management, business, finance, governance, law, and the arts. The board is also the employing authority for the engagement of staff to deliver the artistic program.