Federal election Arts Policy

Mon, 12 Nov 2007, 04:30 pm

I have been commenting on Arts policy during the election campaign, with an emphasis on regional arts policy. Each of the following articles have direct links to policy statements from the major parties: Regional Arts Policy: Labor’s funding to stimulate the arts in regional Australia - http://jmcdonald.org/opinion/?p=54 [comment on Labor's Arts policy statement on 10 November Regional artists and performers abandoned by the Arts policy of the major parties - http://jmcdonald.org/opinion/?p=52 [comment on major parties' arts policy before I saw the Labor statement on 10 November] The Arts: how high an election priority? - http://jmcdonald.org/opinion/?p=34 [original article on arts policy, 15 october] See also: Politics and Theatre - http://jmcdonald.org/opinion/?p=44 [playwriting and political issues] Jim McDonald

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James McDonaldMon, 12 Nov 2007, 04:30 pm

Louisa FitzhardingeMon, 12 Nov 2007, 08:49 pm

Thanks for posting these,

Thanks for posting these, Jim! Although I'm hardly a swinging voter (my Kevin07 t-shirt is currently in the mail!), it's nice to see the policies laid out like that. And it's good to see that a Labour government is at least thinking about making changes and increasing funding; I'm crossing my fingers!

James McDonaldMon, 12 Nov 2007, 09:18 pm

Well, Louisa, Labor upped

Well, Louisa, Labor upped the ante in arts policy over the weekend, and I like the general thrust. As you will note from the commentaries, I don't think the regional aspect goes far enough. I wouldn't describe myself as a swinging voter: I have been a Labor voter for decades, but they've dropped the ball on a number of other key issues which I think are important. But, I certainly won't be voting for the other mob: it would be a disaster if the Coalition were returned. I think sedition laws; Iraq; work "choices"; the general authoritarianism behind their policies; years of deceit....

NaTue, 13 Nov 2007, 09:08 am

Well, with Peter Garrett

Well, with Peter Garrett (the ex-shadow arts minister... or actually ex-shadow arts secretary, since there was no arts minister for a while), Labor should have some sort of arts policy. Garrett's been pretty vocal on a range of arts issues in the past. Sticky Apple Legs www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs Puppets in Melbourne www.thepromptcopy.com/pip My puppets www.collectzing.com/collection/137/

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