Re: Senate Inquiry into Proposed Arts Changes.
Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 7:25 am
Warooa, In all fairness at the present time I think that it is too early to make any call on Sen Mitch Fifield.
He says that he "is still being briefed." Fair enough.
I know that Bush Poetry had a very strong ally in George Brandis. Therefore it is not inconceivable that many of the ideas I sent along might have actually been acted upon.
When one looks at the mass of vested interests being supported by the Australia Council and they are being revealed now in their submissions, it is a politically determined person who would have the courage to stand up to them. Take them head on and say no longer will Arts be run by a bunch of cronies (The Club) who obviously like to play-the-man. Under NPEA, administrative power will be returned to the Australian people through the Arts Minister of whatever political persuasion that may be at the time.
There is no "cut" to arts funding as such, just a transfer of funds and associated Power away from The Club which is why they are screaming. The Australia Council has built up a numerically large power base by handing out lots of small hobby-grants which Sen Brandis suggested have little or no value.
In fact the number and titles of programs and grants now being revealed seems endless. The present government through NPEA etc aims to do away with handing out money to left-handed puppeteers collectives and other endless worthy cultural causes and employ the money more effectively (and accountably).
How dare they!
At present the Free Verse lobby, and they are also numerically very strong because after all anyone can write poetry if there are no rules, control every cent in poetry and treat Balladry with contempt.
I would like to see Bush Poetry at least have a voice rather than no voice.
So will Sen Fifield be a tough guy and take the baton from George and run with it or will he be a weak appeaser and back down.. or try some dumb compromise suggested to him by his flunkies?
It is still a case of wait and see.
What sort of man is he? He does have a Bachelor of Arts degree so in that regard at least he is no dummy... but is he man enough to take this bullying, self-interested and pathetic bunch of arties on? We will have to wait and see.
That is all just my opinion though ... for what it is worth.
He says that he "is still being briefed." Fair enough.
I know that Bush Poetry had a very strong ally in George Brandis. Therefore it is not inconceivable that many of the ideas I sent along might have actually been acted upon.
When one looks at the mass of vested interests being supported by the Australia Council and they are being revealed now in their submissions, it is a politically determined person who would have the courage to stand up to them. Take them head on and say no longer will Arts be run by a bunch of cronies (The Club) who obviously like to play-the-man. Under NPEA, administrative power will be returned to the Australian people through the Arts Minister of whatever political persuasion that may be at the time.
There is no "cut" to arts funding as such, just a transfer of funds and associated Power away from The Club which is why they are screaming. The Australia Council has built up a numerically large power base by handing out lots of small hobby-grants which Sen Brandis suggested have little or no value.
In fact the number and titles of programs and grants now being revealed seems endless. The present government through NPEA etc aims to do away with handing out money to left-handed puppeteers collectives and other endless worthy cultural causes and employ the money more effectively (and accountably).
How dare they!
At present the Free Verse lobby, and they are also numerically very strong because after all anyone can write poetry if there are no rules, control every cent in poetry and treat Balladry with contempt.
I would like to see Bush Poetry at least have a voice rather than no voice.
So will Sen Fifield be a tough guy and take the baton from George and run with it or will he be a weak appeaser and back down.. or try some dumb compromise suggested to him by his flunkies?
It is still a case of wait and see.
What sort of man is he? He does have a Bachelor of Arts degree so in that regard at least he is no dummy... but is he man enough to take this bullying, self-interested and pathetic bunch of arties on? We will have to wait and see.
That is all just my opinion though ... for what it is worth.