Page 749 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 12 April 1994
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MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, LAND AND PLANNING
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION
QUESTION NO 1227
Multicultural Australia Day Festival
Mr Westende - asked the-Minister for the Arts - In relation to the cultural and economic aspects of the Multicultural Australia Day Festival which is to be held on the weekend closest to the Australia Day festivities, with some events being duplicated on 26 January, during the Australia Day celebrations
(1) Could the two events be integrated under the one umbrella of the Australia Day organisation; if not, why not.
(2) Is the funding for the Multicultural Australia Day Festival andthe Australia Day Celebrations provided by your Department; if not, what Department provides funding for these two events.
(3) How much money is budgeted for the various festivals and what is the break up of those moneys.
Mr Wood - the answer to the Members question is as follows:
(1) Australia Day celebrations in the ACT should be integrated, popular and reflect the evolving nature of our community. My department is currently involved in discussions with all the organisations associated with the staging of Australia Day events to endeavour to achieve that objective.
(2) For 1994 Australia Day in the National Capital Incorporated received a grant of $30,000, while the Ethnic Communities Council of the ACT Incorporated received a grant of $15,000 for the Multicultural Australia Day Festival. However, both organisations have been advised that I expect strong support for the process under discussion, and I have emphasised that future funding will be dependent on constructive outcomes.
(3) Most festivals and events of this type apply for funding. There is a budget allocation part of which covers both Community Arts and Festive Events. All applications are considered on merit and there are many high-quality applications received for funding each year. It is policy to balance funding recommendations against the principles and priorities of the Cultural Development Grant Program and during this process budgets may be adjusted to produce the best possible cultural outcomes.
$641,500 was allocated for festivals during the 1993-94 Financial Year, $370,770 of which was allocated to the Canberra Festival and $22,000 to the Science Festival. The closing date to lodge applications for the final grant round for 1994 was 8 March 1994. These applications are still being assessed.
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