Art & culture stories - November 2011

Foreword

Earlier this year I attended the 5th World Summit on Arts and Culture, co-hosted by the Australia Council for the Arts and the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA). The Summit was held in Melbourne from 3 to 6 October and attracted close to 500 delegates from 74 countries.

The theme of the Summit, Creative Intersections, was a great topic for discussion on the role of government policy in linking the arts to other areas of society such as health and well-being, education, social inclusion and digital technologies.

These discussions were particularly timely given the work being to develop Australia’s first National Cultural Policy in two decades.

The consultation period for the National Cultural Policy discussion paper recently closed, with hundreds of submissions and a good response to the online survey.

There was a wide range of responses from the arts sector but many submissions were also received from other areas including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, local government, multicultural groups, health and wellbeing bodies, regional and community organisations, and education and research bodies.

All of this feedback will be invaluable as we head into the next stage of the process – developing Australia’s National Cultural Policy.

Public submissions are being made available for viewing at culture.arts.gov.au.

Sally Basser
First Assistant Secretary
Office for the Arts

Diary

Prime Minister’s Literary Awards – entries close 1 February 2012
Indigenous culture, languages and visual arts funding – applications close 3 February 2012
National Awards for Local Government, Active Arts – entries close 17 February 2012
Picasso, masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris at the Art Gallery NSW – open until 25 Mar 2012

In this issue

World Summit on Arts and Culture 2011

The 5th World Summit on Arts and Culture was held in Melbourne from 3 to 6 October and hosted by the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) in partnership with the Australia Council.

Picasso masterpieces reveal personal side to famous artist

One of this summer’s biggest art exhibition blockbusters, Picasso: masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris, recently opened its doors to an eager public.

Australian National Maritime Museum embarks on ‘20 years’ celebrations!

The Australian National Maritime Museum is celebrating 20 years since it opened its doors to the public. To commemorate this milestone, the Museum is launching a series of cultural events over the next 12 months.

Protecting Indigenous artists’ rights

When artist Mandy Davis saw her Emu painting copied onto a commercial vehicle in 2005, her first reaction was disbelief. Her second reaction was embarrassment because the artwork was distorted and no longer reflected the design she had created.

Changes to Indigenous culture, languages and visual arts funding programs

A single set of guidelines has been introduced for Indigenous culture, languages and visual arts funding.

$1.1 million joint funding package to support art centre housing in APY Lands

The funding was part of $655,000 in Australian Government support for staff housing at art centres across the APY Lands that are funded through the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support (IVAIS) program (formerly National Arts and Crafts Industry Support program).