Cultural Ministers Council meets in Melbourne

IFACCA/Artshub, 03 May 2002,Australia

Australian Commonwealth, State and Territory ministers responsible for arts and cultural portfolios met earlier this week in Melbourne, for the 15th gathering of the Cultural Ministers Council (CMC), discussing issues such as the small-to-medium performing arts sector, a review of the key needs of the collections sector and the cultural benefits of public broadcasting.

A communiqué issued from the meeting noted that agreements were reached in a number of areas, including: the establishment of a National Collections Advisory Forum; allocation of funding for the first stage of Australian Museums Online’s (AMOL) redevelopment; to give priority to Indigenous intellectual property issues; and approval of the CMC Statistics Working Group’s proposed program of activities.

Following a report from Deakin University, Study of the Key Needs of Australia's Heritage Collections, the meeting agreed to establish a National Collections Advisory Forum, which would identify priorities for addressing the ongoing needs of the nation’s museums, galleries, libraries and other collections, including the formation of a sector peak body. An allocation of $160,000 was made to support the forum during 2002/2003, and $100,000 per annum made available to fund programs based on its advice; $70,000 was also allocated for a Business Analysis Report to be compiled for AMOL, as the first stage in its redevelopment.

Ministers also discussed a CMC commissioned review into the factors influencing the artistic and financial viability of Australia’s small- to medium-sized arts organisations, and acknowledged the ‘pivotal contribution made by the sector to Australia’s cultural life’, according to the communiqué.

The meeting affirmed that while the so-called ‘small-to-medium sector’ is characterised by its diversity, its research and development activities, a ‘high risk’ creativity and the involvement of young people, its financial stability is finely balanced and, often, business skills do not grow with the rapid expansion of individual companies.

A strategy was therefore agreed, designed to enhance the sector’s sustainability in both financial and creative terms, which includes: enhanced co-operation between State and Federal funding agencies; a national program for medium-sized companies, aiming to increase skills in board governance, financial management, business development, marketing, use of IT and sponsorship/fundraising; and encouragement of the Australia Business Arts Foundation (ABAF), the Australia Council and State/Territory departments to offer strategic assistance, as a matter of priority.

Meanwhile, the CMC Statistics Working Group had its research plans for 2002/2003 approved, which will measure the social impacts of creative participation, estimate the value of Indigenous cultural product and investigate the impact of cultural tourism in the regions.

Chaired by Victorian Arts Minister Mary Delahunty, the meeting was attended by: Senator Rod Kemp, Federal Minister for the Arts and Sport; Jim Bacon, Premier and Minister for State Development (Tasmania); Roger Wilkins, Director General, NSW Ministry for the Arts; Mike Rann, Premier and Minister for the Arts (South Australia); Matt Foley, Minister for Employment, Training and Youth and Minister for the Arts (Queensland); Clare Martin, Chief Minister and Minister for Arts and Museums (Northern Territory); Sheila McHale, Minister for Community Development, Disability Services, and Culture and the Arts (Western Australia); Bill Wood, Minister for Urban Services and the Arts (Australian Capital Territory); Judith Tizard, Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage (New Zealand); Councillor Peter Watts, Vice President, Australian Local Government Association.

The next CMC meeting will be held in Hobart, during March/April 2003.

The full communiqué is available online at: http://www.dcita.gov.au/cgi-bin/graphics.pl?path=6392

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