Page 2708 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 21 November 1989
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that, if it were to be agreed to, they would have to take full responsibility for restoring the park to exactly as it was before, at no cost to the ACT Government, and for ensuring that there would be no problem to the public in Canberra. They have promised that in writing.
Grants to the Arts
MR HUMPHRIES: My question is to the Chief Minister in her role as Minister responsible for the arts. Has her department made a decision on the level of grants to arts organisations for the calendar year 1990? If so, when will she inform those organisations of the decision? Given that applications for grants closed in July and that the grant levels for the coming year are normally announced in October, why has it taken so long to determine the level of grants for next year? Is the Chief Minister aware that arts organisations need to know the level of funding well in advance of the 1990 funding period in order to properly plan their activities and financial programs for the year ahead?
MS FOLLETT: I thank Mr Humphries for the question. The Arts Development Board is the body which advises on the allocation of CDF grants to the arts in the ACT. It met on 18 September and again on 2 November to make its assessments and recommendations on the priorities and allocations for the applications that it has received for operational, project and individual artists' grants for 1990. The board's recommendations have been received in my office. It is my intention to study them very carefully and, if I am able to, to discuss them with the chair of the Arts Development Board before I make announcements on the levels of funding. There were a large number of applications made this year, and the effort in assessing them and making recommendations has been very substantial. So I do not believe it is a matter that should be approached lightly.
Another point that members might like to hear is that the allocation for the arts, $1.681m, has been indexed, and that will allow us to make some small but real enhancements to levels of support. Again, as my colleague Mr Berry pointed out, in the future, from 1991, we will be looking at a three-year funding to major clients, and that will obviate the need for this constant annual assessment of arts funding. I will be looking at the recommendations made to me, assessing them very carefully and informing applicants as soon as I can. It should not be very long now.
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