The York Crucifixion

I know I'm as usual coming in late, but as someone who spent 7 years on arts funding panels I feel I need to speak up. The process is intense, and detailed, and very honest. It is also incredibly competitive. The panel bring great intelligence and integrity to the process, and make what turn out to be incredibly difficult decisions. There is usually only $1 or so for every $3 requested (or even less), and every panelist often cannot fund at least one or two of their favourite projects due to the panel-based process. On the subject of the amount- well ArtsWA funds professional companies/productions to the amount it takes to actually do this- i.e. The people in this project probably got paid. Personally I think money much better spent than the financial bottomless black hole of community theatre. To fund this sector properly would cost the entire ArtsWA grants budget, and would probably still fail. (This is not a criticism or attack on community theatre) At the end of the day, this funding exists for professional artists and companies, and should stay this way. Delineating community/hobby artists from professional artists is important for those of us for whom this is a job. Furthermore, $28000 is not unusual for a theatre or dance production- they're simply more expensive. Thus the need for govt grants/subsidies. On the subject matter- I am unfortunately (or luckily for my business) so incredibly busy that I didn't get to the show. However, I was astounded at the West's (otherwise known as the Worst Australian) attack, and yet unsuprised. One of the reasons christians should celebrate this play at easter is that it is a religion that for the most part will not go crazy over something that challenges their faith. In other words, we should celebrate that this play happened and noone rioted etc., rather than using muslims etc. as a punching bag for why we shouldn't allow 'this sort of art'... I for one say more 'blaspheme' is needed. Society that doesn't question its beliefs and structures is headed for disaster. Furthermore, this increased capacity to question and reason is surely a measure of our 'civility', and improvement as a species. Also kudos to the director for pointing out that he wouldn't do this to muslim or other culture as it is not 'his' culture to question. He is challenging his world, not someone else's... Finally, if you are not willing to sit in the room and watch the play, how in anyone's name can you say it is one way or the other. People getting upset over probably the one paragraph on the front page (I doubt they read further) are so uninformed as to the project, the funding process, and pretty much everything else as to be as bad as those idiots who started firebombing embassies and rioting over a cartoon. Ignorance is unfortunately still king. Neville It's the simple things stupid...