The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) welcomes the initiative from both the Labor and Liberal parties to build a Jewish Arts Quarter in Melbourne, celebrating the contribution of Jewish Australians to our national story.
MEAA supports investment in building institutions that reflect the diverse history and culture of the many communities that make Australia the multicultural and inclusive country that it is today.
We believe, however, that funding of these institutions should not come at the expense of our national arts funding body, which provides vital funding to the full breadth of Australia's arts community.
MEAA is concerned by the election costings released by the Liberal Party, indicating that it is seeking to return to the bad old days of picking winners when determining arts funding. This was a hallmark of the previous Liberal government, which cut more than $100 million from national arts funding as part of the former personal fiefdom controlled by the then Arts Minister George Brandis.
MEAA supports arms-length funding for the arts free from political interference. We reiterate our call on all parties contesting the election to affirm their commitment to freedom of expression.
