JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
Senator the Hon Rod Kemp
Minister for the Arts and Sport |
Bill Wood MLA
Minister for Arts and Heritage
|
Visual Arts and Craft Strategy funding for Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Government Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, and the Australian Capital Territory Government Minister for Arts and Heritage, Bill Wood, today announced funding for the ACT through the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy.
'The Australian and ACT Governments have worked together to increase the viability and vitality of Australia's contemporary visual arts and craft sector,' Senator Kemp said.
'The ACT Government is confident that this response will foster the long-term development of the visual arts and craft sector in Australia, and in particular, the ACT's nationally and internationally recognised sector' Minister Bill Wood said.
The Visual Arts and Craft Strategy is a comprehensive major new four-year investment by the Australian, State and Territory Governments of at least $39 million which is designed to strengthen and sustain Australia's visual arts and craft sector.
The Strategy is in response to the recommendations of the Contemporary Visual Arts and Craft Inquiry-conducted by Mr Rupert Myer-that called for better-targeted government involvement in the sector.
Australian Government funding of $19.5 million over four years matched dollar-for-dollar by State and Territory Governments will increase funding for Australia's contemporary visual arts and craft sector by at least 33 per cent.
In its 2004-05 Budget the ACT Government has committed $60,000 in 2004-05, $90,000 in 2005-06; $110,000 in 2006-07 and $120,000 in 2007-08 to the visual arts and craft strategy.
Through the Strategy, the ACT will receive a four-year funding package totalling nearly $725,000. In 2004, the key infrastructure of contemporary arts organisations and craft and design organisations will be the focus of support, with Craft ACT, Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Megalo and PhotoAccess receiving a total of $105,000 in new funding from the ACT Government.
The Visual Arts and Craft Strategy will enable Australia's visual artists and craft practitioners to create more opportunities, to further connect with the Australian public and to engage with international developments.
The funding will benefit Australians in general but more directly individual artists, contemporary art and craft organisations and events, and the Indigenous art sector through a range of funding packages.
'This important and positive joint Government initiative, will greatly contribute to the strengthening and sustainability of the visual arts and craft sector in the ACT' Minister Bill Wood said.
'I am delighted the Australian Capital Territory has joined the Australian Government and entered into this important partnership to support its visual artists and craft practitioners,' Senator Kemp said.
THE VISUAL ARTS AND CRAFT STRATEGY
is supported by the Australian, State and Territory Governments
16 July 2004
Media contacts:
Richard Wise, Senator Kemp's office, 02 6277 7350 or 0438 204 554
Andrew Rhodes, Minister Bill Wood's office, 02 6205 0300
