Since 1999 AIC(V) has been at the forefront of a campaign to highlight the lack of resources and funding available for what’s been known as the “Small-medium Arts Sector.” New initiatives were identified and delivered for the visual arts sector after the Myer Report into contemporary visual arts and Craft. Arts Victoria have acknowledged the need for more resources for this sector overall. The Australia Council have also acknowledged a critical resource issue, though it is nclear if they have strategies to effectively address this.
AIC(V) fought for an Inquiry into performing arts appointed by the Cultural Ministers Council along the lines of the well-resourced “Nugent” Inquiry into the major performing arts companies. A small Inquiry was held in 2001 and AIC made a submission (see below). The CMC released the Report in 2002 (see below) which outlines an obvious finding:
“The Working Party found overwhelming evidence that the Small to Medium Performing Arts Sector is essential to the artistic vitality and the ongoing development of Australia’s performing arts. It is the main source of new Australian works in the subsidised performing arts. The Sector provides access to the arts, offers many employment opportunities and in particular gives young and regionally based Australians opportunities to participate in the arts. The Sector also has a considerable economic impact.”
There is now a strong recognition that the powerhouse companies are chronically under-resourced. There have been some steps to remedy this with some increases granted to companies by Arts Victoria. The need to find resources for these companies from a limited pool has also been cited as one of the reasons why the Australia Council has undertaken its restructure – partly to set-up a “Key Organisations” unit (see Ozco Restructure).
There is still a limited pool of investment for the small to medium performing arts sector;
The static funding situation means that new companies and organisations find it difficult to receive on-going funding support as most resources are already allocated to existing companies;
New resources have been made available when some existing companies have ceased producing;
Development of the sector is at a standstill, despite record audiences, increasing production, increased international profile and many other indicators of success;
The same chronic issues face small-medium organisations in other artforms, including galleries, visual arts creators, literature and so on.
Arts Victoria have recently announced a new research initiative to scope the size and depth of activity
