10 November 2007

Local communities will have greater opportunities to create and enjoy their own art in suburbs and towns across Australia under a Rudd Labor Government.

A Rudd Labor Government will increase base funding for the Australia Council by $10 million over four years in a Creative Communities program to improve opportunities for Australians to participate in arts and cultural activities in the places where they live.

It’s clear that further investment in grassroots cultural resources significantly adds to the wellbeing of local neighbourhoods.

All Australians should be able to participate in cultural life, irrespective of where they live or how much they earn.

In addition, Federal Labor’s Shadow Minister for the Arts, Mr Peter Garrett MP, today announced in Parramatta in Western Sydney a series of arts initiatives, including:

• A requirement for visiting international musicians and performers to use Australian support acts where possible under new visa rules.
• Investment of $17 million over four years in a new Creative Industries Innovation Centre – helping creative Aussie companies to leave an even bigger stamp on the Australian and overseas economies; and
• Investment of an additional $7.6 million over four years for the National Arts and Crafts Industry Support program to support Aboriginal Art Centres around the country.

These new initiatives build on earlier Federal Labor commitments, including:

• Ensuring an independent and transparent Australia Council.
• Implementing greatly simplified and faster investment application processes for Australian artists through the Australia Council.
• A $2.4 million boost to the highly successful Australian Music Radio Airplay Project.
• Working with the States and Territories to improve the provision of arts and music education in schools.
• Implementing a resale royalty scheme for visual artists, providing additional support for Indigenous artists who have experienced a boom in the Indigenous art market.
• A strong commitment to Indigenous art and craft including addressing the issues raised by the Senate Committee report Indigenous Art – Securing the Future.