2024-08-17
Today the ACT Greens have announced their plan to support Canberra’s vibrant arts scene to thrive, not dive, in the midst of this cost-of-living crisis.
“The Greens want Canberra to be a liveable city, enlivened by art, music and rich culture that everyone can access,” recontesting Member for Ginninderra, Jo Clay.
“But we are hearing from our artists that in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis they’re struggling to make ends meet. Artists can’t even afford to live here, let alone practise here. We need to do better if we want art to thrive.
“For too long, Labor has targeted arts investment at buildings, not people, undervaluing the contribution that art makes to the lives of individuals and our community as a whole. I’m yet to hear any plan for arts from the Liberals.
“The ACT’s creative industries contribute so much to our society, but also to our economy: about $2.9 billion, that’s almost 8% of our local economy.
“Our plan will put art at the heart of the capital by funding art, artists and arts organisations, not just buildings,” said Ms Clay.
“The Greens initiative will ensure that our artists are paid a fair wage. We will more than double government funding for our arts organisations. We will make our arts scene more accessible for people with a disability.”
The ACT Greens will:
- Fund art, not just the buildings art goes in, by doubling the arts budget
- Pay artists fairly with multi-year contracts and track the fair Remuneration Principles
- Support First Nations art
- Create new artistic opportunities with a commissioning officer
- Make art accessible for all
Soelily Consen-Lynch, Greens candidate for the seat of Yerrabi, said that the Greens initiative will have a positive impact on improving the sector.
“As a lover of the arts scene, I believe that the arts provide a positive contribution to Canberra. People in the arts put their heart and soul out on the stage to give the audience all their best.
"Many people in the arts scene were still recovering from the significant challenges experienced at the peak of Covid, while the constantly rising cost of living has brought further challenges.
“Canberrans in the arts scene also provide a positive contribution to the community and should also be supported in the cost-of-living crisis like other Canberrans," said Ms Consen-Lynch.
More detail on today’s arts initiative is available at https://greens.org.au/act/policies/arts.
This announcement follows the ACT Greens’ initiative to create new entertainment precincts to support Canberra’s live music scene.