Tas Arts Community Comes Together To Fight Funding Changes

The Tasmanian arts community has spoken out against federal funding changes within the sector that may harm the vibrancy of the state’s scene.

As ABC reports, a senate committee is looking into any negative impacts that may occur due to $105 million being moved from Australia Council to the new National Program for Excellence in the Arts.

The new program is overseen by arts minister George Brandis, and one concern is his power to veto any project.

30 Tasmanian arts representatives met last night to assess the new system and develop a survival strategy, with their main concern being their arts sector is more vulnerable because of its relevantly smaller size.

Kickstart Arts is based in Tasmania, and artistic director Jami Bladel told ABC that while her business has Australia Council funding until the end of 2016, others are in serious trouble.

"These are all companies that do amazing work in the development of new work, tell Tasmanian stories, support Tasmanian artists, they are all threatened by this change," she said.

"If we don't get funding from the Australia Council, which is now going to be twice as difficult to get, we'll be in dire straits."

The aim of the Wednesday night’s gathering was also to assess any significant unintended problems that could arise from the structural shift.

Members of the Tasmanian Writers Centre and the Writers Festival, The Terrapin Puppet Theatre, Theatre Council of Tasmania and more were scheduled to present evidence today at the Hobart Function and Conference Centre.

Tasmania is known for its rich festival arts scene, most notably evident via the annual MOFO events.