Page 861 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 9 March 2016

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artsACT also manages a large network of arts facilities that provide key arts infrastructure as a platform to develop, make and present artists’ work and for access and engagement by the ACT community. These important facilities include Ainslie Arts Centre, Belconnen Arts Centre, Canberra Glassworks, the Fitters’ Workshop, the former bus depot, Gorman House Arts Centre, Manuka Arts Centre, Strathnairn Arts centre, the Street Theatre, Tuggeranong Arts Centre and Watson Arts Centre.

Our recent investments in these facilities include refurbishment of Tuggeranong Arts Centre, upgrades to the Ainslie music centre and Gorman House arts centres, capital upgrades to Strathnairn Arts centre, new rehearsal and office space at the Street Theatre, studios and artists residences at the Watson Arts Centre, as well as upgrades across the portfolio of the Cultural Facilities Corporation, including Canberra Theatre. These investments are providing the community with access to great art and great artists across the spectrum of art forms.

There are also many great stories of outcomes for individual artists from funding assistance. In 2012, a modest $2,000 grant in out-of-round funding went to assist David Worrall, a music and sound artist, to present his work in Belgium and Germany. This led to David being offered a 12-month artist-in-residence appointment at the prestigious Fraunhofer Foundation Germany, which is renowned for research and innovation. That was a great outcome for David and the further development of his work.

MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Hinder.

MR HINDER: Thank you for your response, minister. You speak of grants. Can you tell the Assembly about the range of grants available to artists from the ACT government?

MADAM SPEAKER: Before I call Dr Bourke, Mr Hinder is new and I remind him that supplementary questions cannot have a preamble. For future reference, even something as small as “speaking of grants” is a preamble and I ask you to be aware of this issue. I call the minister for the arts.

DR BOURKE: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I thank Mr Hinder for his supplementary. artsACT provides a broad range of funding categories for access by artists, arts organisations and community groups through a competitive peer-assessed, application-based process. This funding provides community access and participation to the arts, supports great art and great artists and supports the ongoing vitality of our arts ecology.

This includes key arts organisation funding, which is available to support arts organisations that provide critical arts infrastructure in the ACT through high quality programs, services and facilities for five years. Program organisation funding is available to support arts organisations that provide a program of activity enabling the ACT community to have access to and engagement with the arts for two years.


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