Mitch Fifield abolishes arts fund Catalyst after community feedback
Updated
The Federal Government will abolish the controversial Abbott-era arts fund Catalyst, after widespread criticism from the arts community.
Key points:
- Opposition labels Catalyst program "a slush fund"
- Fund stripped over $100 million from the Australia Council over four years
- Change allows Australia Council to "address specific recommendations", Mitch Fifield says
The fund was created and designed by former arts minister George Brandis in 2015, and gave the Arts Ministry direct control over public funding of arts projects.
That led many in the arts community to accuse the Government of political interference, with the Federal Opposition labelling the program "a slush fund".
The fund stripped more than $100 million from the Australia Council over four years — approximately 15 per cent of its budget — and led more than 60 small to medium-sized arts organisations losing their funding.
The fund was initially named the National Program for Excellence in the Arts but it was renamed as the Catalyst program by Senator Brandis's successor Mitch Fifield.
Senator Fifield returned close to a third of the Australia Council's funding in 2015 and has now announced the return of $80.2 million over the next four years.
Labor's spokesman for the arts Mark Dreyfus has been critical of the program for years, claiming it was a retrograde step that "compromised the independence of arts".
Change will allow Australia Council to 'address specific recommendations'
In a statement issued on Saturday, Senator Fifield said his decision to abolish the fund was made after listening to feedback from the arts community.
"While Catalyst has been successful in supporting a broad range of arts projects, especially those by small to medium arts organisations, the Government has listened and responded to feedback from the Department, the Australia Council and the arts sector regarding the ongoing arrangements for the Australian Government's funding for the arts portfolio," he said.
Senator Fifield said the change would allow the Australia Council to "address specific recommendations" from the Operate Review regarding the Victorian and Queensland Opera, and the sustainability of the Queensland Ballet and the Brandenburg Orchestra.
The Department of Communications and the Arts will retain $2 million a year to provide funding for organisations that are not supported by the Australia Council.
"This may include the galleries, libraries, archives and museums sector and some regional and community, education and health organisations," Senator Fifield said.
The department will continue to administer the Visions of Australia and Festivals Australia initiatives, which were transferred from the Australia Council in 2015.
The Catalyst program provided $35 million to 189 projects across the arts and culture sector with the vast majority of money going to small and medium-sized organisations.
Topics: arts-and-entertainment, government-and-politics, federal-government, australia
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