OPEN LETTER: Why would you defund a cultural institution?

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OPEN LETTER TO:
The Hon Simon Crean MP
Minister for the Arts
eMAIL: s.crean.mp@aph.gov.au

Minister,

RE: Why would you defund a cultural institution?

Firstly, it must be said that neither you personally, nor your ministry, are seen as having defunded Craft Australia – an Australian Cultural Institution – but the 'institution' has nonetheless been defunded by the Australia Council's Visual Arts Board (VAB) [1] and ultimately in your name – albeit at arms' length.

In The Australian Oct 21 [2] it is reported that "the preamble to the National Cultural Policy [3] discussion paper envisages an Australian society in 10 years, when the arts are mainstreamed, embedded into the public consciousness via a range of government portfolios from health to tourism ... The core arts are presenting bold new Australian works to more culturally diverse audiences; creative industries are central to the success of nation-building infrastructure (read the National Broadband Network); regional Australia is creatively flourishing; and indigenous culture is front and centre." It is presumed that you endorse this vision of diversity and multi-dimensional cultural inclusiveness.

Given all this, why would you be preemptive and defund a cultural institution like Craft Australia? That is, why do it before the "working parties, boards, artists and companies" [2] bring their "Big Ideas to Canberra for the consideration of those who will decide which issues press the right political buttons". Indeed why do it without notice against this background?

Against the background of an apparent lack of due process, this VAB decision [4] is at once concerning and bewildering coming as it does without precedence for an institution of 40 years standing and one that has earned a place, arguably a key position, in Australia's cultural imagination and landscape.

Indeed to quote, "Craft Australia's [history is one that] has been championing Australian contemporary craft and design practice since 1971. Over this time Craft Australia has responded to changes in the field and implemented key strategies to advance the sector" .

It may well be that Craft Australia needs to change in order to meet the needs of a 21st Century arts constituency and the fiscal constraints of our time – indeed this particular institution has done so before. So, why the apparent assumption/assessment that it cannot – will not(?) – change or adapt to  new imperatives in context with a new paradigm? The evidence suggests that this organisation not only can do so but has done so before in that it has reformed itself to meet current imperatives.

Arguably, this act of defunding can be seen as punitive and/or an elitist attempt to marginalise, or to 'silo' [5] even, a component of Australian cultural production given the circumstances [4] within which it took place and the comparative outcomes [4] of the process it was a part of. Clearly the decision has not followed due process or due governance – and importantly is in fact in breach of the VAB's own guidelines.[6]

Moreover, it might also be seen as being analogous to a kind of cultural cleansing or an ideologically driven purification process. If this seems to be an extreme critique, well the circumstances [4] within which the decision was made seems to justify it.

If this 'defunding' is punishment, is it justified?  What is it retribution for? What does it set out to deter? Where is the opportunity to 'rehabilitate'? What potential victims are being protected? It is worth noting that only retribution, as a punishment, has the satisfaction of being the guaranteed outcome. However it is looked at, the defunding of Craft Australia seems disproportionate to the facts and the circumstances [4] within which the decision has been made.

Indeed, it appears that Craft Australia has been singled out for special attention and as a consequence the outcome appears to be not only preemptive but also unjustifiably punitive.

I put it to you, given all that is at stake, that on this occasion you would be justified in intervening in the decision making to satisfy yourself that:

1. The defunding outcome for Craft Australia is indeed justified, equitable and  truly reflective of government policy; and that

2.  Should the decision stand for whatever reason, make sure that the organisation is provided with the opportunity, and the time, to regroup and reposition itself; and  furthermore ensure that

3. What is arguably a 'cornerstone' component of Australian cultural production is not marginalised given that an aspect of Australia's 'cultural capital' is at risk of being diminished should it be.

I look forward to your considered response and to there being an equitable outcome to this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Ray Norman

Independent researcher and cultural producer
Launceston, Tasmania