Peter Garrett Online Forum

I am a left libertarian. I used to call myself an anarchist until those idiots working in banks and insurance companies started calling themselves anarchists in their demonstrations against globalisation. I too am against globalisation but I'm prepared to say so publicly and show my face. I also prefer not to throw stones. I am ambivalent about Arts funding especially when you consider I am pretty much against government. However I am prepared to acknowledge that we need some functions of government and therefore we might as well get some funding support from it. I am an independent artist and producer but I doubt that I will ever receive, even if I apply for it, any Government funding, I am too independent and refuse to follow the "rules". Rules in art seem to me to be a bit (read totally) redundant. Here in SA the granting of arts funding has been placed in the hands of panels who consist of practising artists in the various areas funded. Fine I hear you say what a good idea. No it's not, because the panels tend to be self perpetuating and only give funds to applications that fit within their view of the arts they are responsible for. If you work outside of that view you will receive no money. They then arrange for the appointment of people who agree with them when they are replaced on the panel. Result? After a while all the funded examples of that art type begin to look that same and have the same names attached to them. Some of these panel members get funding for their own productions granted at meetings where they are sitting. Get my point. I personally feel that arts funding should be in supported bricks and mortar. Build us theatres (in my case as I am a performing artist) and provide them at affordable hire rates. That is properly equipped and maintained theatres that can be hired at a percentage of box office with the relevant government level picking up the balance of the costs in running the place. Lets face it on some shows they will make a packet. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au