Victorian cultural policy: a brief over-view
Ben Eltham Centre for Policy Development; Centre for Cultural Research, University of Western Sydney
Arts Centre
Watching TV
Watching TV is still Victorians’ most common cultural activity. In 2006: 87 per cent of Australians watched or listened to TV daily we watched an average of just under 3 hours a day each (Source: ABS) TV stats
Attendance at cultural events, Victoria (ABS)
Queue for cinema
Hamer Hall 9% cultural attendance; $128 million redevelopment
24% of cultural attendance; $2.2 million since 2007 Oh Mercy
Policy Framework
Stated policy goals Arts for all Victorians: a culture of participation (social development goal) On the threshold: an economy based on innovation (economic development goal) Creative place: a dynamic arts sector (cultural development goal)
cultural expenditure*: $454.5 million Source: 2010 DPC Annual Report; 2010 DIIRD Annual Report * includes Film Victoria
Where do the grant dollars go? Source: 2009 DPC Annual Report 2010 Budget Papers
The big cultural institutions: National Gallery of Victoria Australian Centre for the Moving Image Museum Victoria Melbourne Recital Centre Geelong Performing Arts Centre State Library The Arts Centre Public Record Office Film Victoria now lives over in DIIRD
Less than 1% of Arts Victoria’s budget goes to grants to artists to make work
Cultural employment in Victoria, 2006 Cultural employment in Victoria
Culture is bigger than the arts: design
Cultural policy is bigger than the arts: screen
Cultural policy is bigger than the arts: liquor licensing
Cultural policy is bigger than the arts: the internet
Policy challenges Addressing culture in the wider sense, not just capital-A “arts” Technology is changing culture Whole-of-government approach Regulation as well as funding Starving artists or iconic institutions?
More Than Luck
Ben Eltham