STATEMENT ON THE ARTS J
THE PRIME MINISTER
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE J. M. FRASER, M. P.
3 JUNE 1976
I should like to inform the House on measures the
Government is taking in the area of the arts.
The Government will be providing next year, $ 33.8
million exclusive of Australia Council administrative costs, for
support for the arts.
This continued high level of support emphasises the
Government's firm commitment to support and encourage the development
of the arts throughout the Australian community.
In line with economies elsewhere we have aimed at
eliminating unnecessary expenditure, but equally we have sought to
ensure that no important or worthwhile programmes suffer.
Providing a national stimulus to the arts is in
accordance with our philosophy of freedom of individual expression.
We believe in freedom for artist and patron alike.
For this reason we do not see the Government as the only
or necessarily the major source of art patronage.
Ideally, the arts through individual and community
patronage should be self-supporting, but there are few if any places
where this happens.
Even in the United States, the Federal Government has in
recent years had to play a part, and Government support for the
arts is an accepted fact in the cultural life of Western Europe.
It is one of the Commonwealth Government's tasks
to see how best the arts programmes of all levels of Government
in Australia might complement and support each other, to
minimize duplication and overlap and to provide the greatest
measure of fulfilment for artists and audiences.
We believe a genuinely vigorous and stimulating
artistic climate will emerge only when Governments, individuals
and private enterprises and corporations are actively and
co-operatively offering decentralised and diversified patronage
for the arts in our community. A diversity and plurality of
support can only strengthen the arts to the general common good.
Let me emphasise that our aim is to broaden support
for the arts, to have more funds flowing from different sources.
We are not seeking to find substitutes for Government assistance,
but to expand on that necessary base.
In this connection, the Government is having examined
the possibility of taxation concessions or other incentives for
the arts, and ways and means of encouraging individual and
private enterprise and corporate patronage.
Internationally, the Government will continue to
foster cultural exchanges. We will support programmes to
bring arts and artists from abroad. We will also support the
promotion of Australian arts and artists overseas. Of the
latter, one example among many is our programme of activities
in connection with the American Bicentennial Celebrations
which includes the forthcoming tour of the Australian Ballet.
Turning to specific issues, in December last year
we established the Administrative Review Committee to review
Government expenditure and recommend on ways of eliminating waste
and duplication within and between Government departments and
agencies, and between Commonwealth and State Government bodies.
As one of its first tasks the Committee undertook an
examination of the operations of the Australia Council, the Film
and Television School, and the Australian Film Commission.
The Australia Council had itself recognised management
and other organisational difficulties. It had separately commissioned
an inquiry into its operations, by McKinsey and Company Inc.
Both this report and the Council's views on it were
available to the Committee.
The Government has reached a number of decisions on the
structure and future of its arts organisationso
Australia Council The operations of the Australia Council and its
expenditure on the arts have been reported on by the Auditor-General
and the Public Accounts Committee. They have been the subject
of questions in Parliament and debate in the media.
The Council has attracted criticism, particularly
from artists and the arts' community, concerning extravagance
and excessive administrative expenses.
The Administrative Review Committee, in its examination
of the Council noted, among other things: unsatisfactory
arrangements between the Council and Boards; high turn-over of
members; excessive attention to the making of small grants and
at considerable cost; insufficient account was taken of blossoming
State cultural authorities and their possible use as agents for
the Council; enthusiastic arts amateurs and the dilettante seemed
to receive more attention than was probably deserved.
The changes to be made are designed to correct identified
problems and deficiencies, to make administrative and financial
arrangements more efficient, to reduce administrative costs so
that more funds will be available for the arts themselves, to
enter on new and improved arrangements which might lead to greater
involvement of State and local governments and other enterprises.
The Australia Council Act is to be amended to formally
give the Council the role of the Government's advisory agency on
all matters falling within the area of its responsibilities.
The Council was not previously charged with this specific
responsibility. Council control of the activities of the Boards will
be increased for reasons of administrative effectiveness, but not
so as to interfere with essential flexibility for running day-to-day
affairs. In future, Boards will be responsible to the Council
and function under its direction and guidelines. They will have
clearly defined advisory and recommendatory roles, and such
executive powers as the Council may delegate to them. .0
Changes are proposed to the structure and size of the
Council and Boards to increase effectiveness, generally reduce
costs but at the same time, ensure continuity and diversity of
advice. The Council will be reduced in size from a range of
18-24 members to a range of 15-19 members. Public Service members
will be reduced from 3 to 2.
Two new positions will be created: one of Deputy Chairman
of the Council ( a part-time office) to assist the Chairman and
generally facilitate the Council's operations; one of General-
Manager ( a full-time office) to be the chief executive of the Council.
This will give greater weight to the chief executive office, and
generally provide a better scheme of administrative responsibility.
The office of General-Manager will be a statutory one. The General-
Manager will be an ex-officio member of the Council.
To reduce excessive turnover, the terms of appointment of
Council and Board members will be extended from 3 to 4 years. Members'
appointments may be renewed for a further term of 2 years0 After
this reappointment would not be considered until 2 more years expired.
The Australia Council's film, radio and television
responsibilities will be transferred to the Australian Film
Commission. The Film, Radio and Television Board will be abolished.
This change is being made on the basis of drawing all
film and television activities together as a step in rationalization,
and so that creative film-makers might now link up with the
mainstream of commercial film-making. . o/ 6
The number and responsibilities of the other Boards
will remain the same0
Membership of the Boards will be reduced from a range
of 7-10, excepting Aboriginal Arts which is 9-14 plus Chairman,
to a range of 5-7. Aboriginal Arts will be 7-9 plus Chairman.
As a further step to rationalise and reduce administration,
the Council will assume responsibility for and administer: the
Australian Authors' Fund and the Historic Memorials Committee,
activities presently with the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet; the Aboriginal arts activities presently with the
Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
To increase the involvement of State, Territory and
local governments, and other appropriate regional organisations,
the Council will consult with appropriate authorities to begin a
programme of devolution of grant-giving activitiesø
Community arts activities and small grants to individuals
or groups are areas where the programme of devolution might begin.
In line with the Government's view that the Council
should retain overall responsibility for Commonwealth programmes
for the arts, funds will remain part of theCouncil's budget
and be channelled through it to the States and other bodies0
In any programmes of devolution the Council may specify
the broad purposes for which the funds might be used. It may
also expect reports from the grant-giving agencies on how moneys
have been spend and on the operation of the programmes. The 0../ 7
7.
pace and scope of the programmes and transitional and other
arrangements necessary will be matters for determination by the
Council. The costs of many small individual grants programmes
have been out of proportion to the assistance offered. Accordingly,
while I would expect the Council to continue to offer individual
grants, I would hope that in future the emphasis would be on
assisting the most talented with the highest promise of excellence.
The Council aims to widen involvement in the arts, and
encourage more support from other areas. In line with this object
the Council will be asked to seek to establish arrangements whereby
support for national organisations the Arts Council of
Australia, the Crafts Council of Australia), and performing arts
companies in the States would be on a matching basis with either
the organisations or the States.
Matching arrangements should be a Council objective.
It is not our intention, however, that it should be an
inflexible rule which might impede the development of any arts
activities. Precise matching arrangements would be a matter for
determination by the Council.
Training in the arts is essentially an educational matter.
In future the Council will not engage in this activity. I have in
mind in particular the National Institute of Dramatic Art, and the
Australian Ballet School.
It is proposed that in the future the appropriate
Commonwealth and State education authorities should be responsible
for these institutions.
After due consideration of all the issues, it
has been decided that the Commonwealth Government will
not provide direct or indirect assistance for capital
arts projects outside of its responsibilities in
Commonwealth Territories. The Government regards this as
essentially a State function.
There are other matters largely internal to the
Council aimed at establishing improved criteria for grants,
guidelines and controls, better administrative and financial
arrangements, and reduced costs. I shall be tsaking these up
with the Council. The changes that are proposed should not be allowed
to reflect on the greater part of the Council's very fine
work and its many excellent initiatives.
The arts by their very nature are an area for
controversy and differences of judgement and opinion.
Criticisms need, therefore, tobe kept in perspective.
Among the many very worthy projects the Council
has currently in hand is the proposed Chinese Archaeological
Exhibition scheduled for early next year. This is almost
certainly the most important exhibition ever to come to
Australia, and is a landmark of its kind. / 9
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Film and Television
The Government will continue to encourage film
and television in partnership with the industry, the ultimate
aim being self-sufficiency.
Recent experience has made us all aware of the potential
of our film and television industry and of the ready interest of
Australian audiences.
Onoe again the changes to be made are intended to
rationalise and draw like activities tbogether to make for more
effective operation and the best use of available resources.
In this area, the Government has taken the following
decisions oThe Australian Film Commission will take over
responsibility for independent radio and audio-visual
production activities areas largely neglected in the past.
* The film, radio arid television functions of the
Australia Council will go to the Commission. A joint
working party will be set up to effect the most satisfactory
transfer and to ensure that proper account is taken of
the interests of the staff involved.
The Commission will also take over the staff and
resources of the Audio-Visual Branch of the Postal
and Telecommunications Department these resources will
complement and expand those of the Commission' s Film
Australia Branch.
OThe Film and Television School will assume responsibility
for training in radio and audio-visual communicationsagain,
areas previously neglected' / 1
Changes in both the Australia Council and the Australian
Film Commission will involve amendments to legislation and these
will be introduced as soon as practicable.
Australian National Gallery
The Government is committed to the concept of the
National Gallery, and the broad objectives of the National Gallery
Act passed by Parliament last year.
The Act has been proclaimed with effect from 3 June 1976,
and I am pleased to announce the appointment of the following
members of the first permanent Council, each of whom will hold office
for a term of 3 years: Mr Richard Crebbin ( Chairman)
Mr Fred Williams
Mr James T. Gleeson, A. M.
Mr Murray Bail
Professor Patrick McCaughey
Miss Pamela Bell
Mr James 0. Fairfax
Mr David Wynn
Mr John D. Davies
Mr Donald J. Munro, O. B. E.
The Council will assume immediate responsibility for
on-going arrangements and advice to the Government on all
Gallery affairs. As I have stated elsewhere, we believe that the Gallery
should hold the very finest work of Australian artists of all
periods and we shall support the policy of giving priority to the
acquisition of Australian art. ,. o/ 11
110
This will not preclude the Gallery acquiring important
works of art in other areas, and continuing to develop a National
Collection taking in the arts of other countries and cultures.
In addition, we shall through the Australia Council seek to
encourage more high quality exhibitions from abroad so that as
many Australians as possible may see a greater number of the finest
works of art from other regions and periods.
I believe that the active pursuit of my Government's
aims towards the arts will be, ultimately, to the greater benefit
of the whole Australian community.