Tag Archives: Canberra

…and then it was 2016 and your connections grew and your voice became even louder.

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Woman with megaphoneHappy New Year. This one’s going to be big.

There’s the ACT election, where the Assembly will be increasing from 17 to 25 members, and a party who’s been governing for many years will be up against one that’s chomping at the bit. Will the main political parties prepare arts policies? If so, how informed will those policies be and what impact would they have on the ACT region? And what about the minor parties and the independents? Some very interesting election commentary from Jack Waterford, former editor of the Canberra Times, can be found here.

Then there’s the federal election, which might not directly affect the arts in our region, but with the recent changes to the funding of the Australia Council and the establishment of the centralised Catalyst funding program it will still be very, very fascinating indeed.

As always, the Childers Group will be working hard to be an articulate, informed and engaged voice for the arts in our region, and one of the key ways we do that is through holding forums.

Frankly, we want – and need – your involvement.

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MentoringOur first forum for the year, Aspects on Mentoring, will be held from 5:30-7:30pm on Thursday 28 January at Canberra Museum and Gallery. Learn more about mentoring and hear from mentorees and their mentors about their experiences, in an open and frank discussion around finding the right person, and working out how to work best together. Then you’ll have a rapid-fire opportunity to meet potential mentoring partners, share your stories, and maybe kick off something special. This will also be an excellent time to meet other emerging and established leaders in the arts in the ACT, and build your networks over a glass of wine.

Admission is free, bookings are essential.

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Then, on Wednesday 24 February at Gorman Arts Centre, we’ll be holding Vision and Support: What’s planned and what’s needed for the arts in the ACT region? Come and participate in this forum/debate and help spark a public conversation about the arts in the lead up to the 2016 ACT election! UPDATE: this forum is now SOLD OUT!

The details are as follows:

TIME: 5:30pm-7:30pm

PRESENTERS: Dr Chris Bourke MLA (ACT Labor), Shane Rattenbury MLA (ACT Greens), Brendan Smyth MLA (ACT Liberals)

PANEL: Paul Daley, Helen Ennis, Chris Endrey, Jenni Kemarre Martiniello

MC: Genevieve Jacobs, 666 ABC Canberra

VENUE: Main Hall, Gorman Arts Centre, Braddon

COST: $10 and $5 concession to help cover costs

RSVP and payment: via EventBrite by 5pm Monday 22 February. (For those who don’t wish to make an online payment, please call 6182 0000.)

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With much thanks to our venue partners, Canberra Museum and Gallery/Cultural Facilities Corporation and Ainslie + Gorman Arts Centres.

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Keep in touch with these events, and other Childers Group activities, via Facebook and Twitter.

MEDIA RELEASE: Is the arts side of ACT Budget 2015/16 really ‘Confident, Bold, Ready’?

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Might the ACT Government's budget for 2015-2016 put the arts sector at the risk of disintegration?

Might the ACT Government’s budget for 2015-2016 put the arts sector at the risk of disintegration?

The Childers Group congratulates the ACT Government for committing to the refurbishment of the Canberra Theatre in its budget for 2015/2016, but the Group expresses real concern that overall the ACT’s arts sector is going backwards.

‘We appreciate the ACT Government’s recent and projected invested in capital works,’ said Childers Group spokesperson Professor David Williams. ‘However, in terms of funding the arts organisations, arts workers, and – critically – the artists themselves, the budget for 2015/2016 is lacking the drive, leadership, and strategic support the sector requires.’

The Childers Group’s key concerns are:

  • since 2005 the ACT Arts Fund administered by artsACT has not been increased beyond CPI – this means that the Fund is unable to provide the support required by the city’s key arts organisations, which in turn means the ability for the ACT community to engage with the arts is being severely curtailed;
  • the lack of Arts Fund growth also leads to the inability of arts organisations to attract skilled personnel and then retain them over the long-term; and
  • artsACT itself seems to have suffered a $200,000 cut in funding.

The Childers Group’s pre-budget submission can be found here.

‘Recently the ACT Government rebranded the national capital as Confident, Bold, Ready,’ said Professor Williams. ‘Regrettably, in terms of the arts, the 2015/16 Budget does not reflect these goals, as laudable as they are. Strategic and long-term investment in our arts organsiations and artists is essental for a smart and healthy modern city. Canberra deserves consistent investment in its arts sector. Without an appropriate level of investment, the sector will disintegrate – and the community will be all the poorer for it.’

WRITING AUSTRALIA should call National Capital home

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In November 2011 concerned ACT region arts leaders formed a new voice for the arts.

The CHILDERS GROUP advocacy is based on the principles of objectivity, independence, valuing the arts, and a pride in Australia’s national capital city and the region that surrounds it.

The CHILDERS GROUP strongly advocates for Canberra to be the formal and functional home for the newly formed organisation, Writing Australia. 

The writing sector is currently undergoing considerable change, and there is a need for a strong and coordinated voice for the sector.  Writing Australia can be that voice.

Writing Australia currently has a presence in Canberra with its administration operating from an office provided by the National Library of Australia. The National Library, in the context of the other national cultural institutions, is the appropriate place for the operational base of Writing Australia.

Not only is Canberra  Australia’s National Capital, it is the location of significant writing infrastructure, including the National Library but also the National Archives, three universities and Manning Clark House. Canberra and its surrounding regional areas have a high level of engagement in professional writing activities.

Proximity to the Australian Parliament, federal Government departments, and the network of national cultural agencies is central to the effective work of any organisation with Australia-wide responsibilities.

The CHILDERS GROUP is calling on the ACT Government, the Australia Council for the Arts, and Writing Australia to begin working towards formalising its headquarters in Canberra, Australia’s national capital city.

For more information, please contact the CHILDERS GROUP.