- State Government calls for urgent and decisive action on the outdated Major Performing Arts Framework
- Western Australia seeks funding equity from Federal Government
- Strengthening of the Major Performing Arts Framework creates opportunities to boost Western Australian arts
Western Australia has called on the Federal Government to undertake urgent and decisive action on the Major Performing Arts (MPA) Framework.
Tomorrow, State and Federal Arts Ministers will meet to discuss strengthening the framework, and Western Australian representatives are seeking a balanced model of investment from the Federal Government.
The Major Performing Arts (MPA) Framework was established in 2001 and has not been reformed to reflect the changing face of Australia.
Thanks to Federal investment, the New South Wales Government need only spend $11.7 million for 10 major performing arts companies whilst WA needs to spend $9 million to support its four.
This is an unfair financial arrangement that disadvantages WA and affects job opportunities and equitable access for audiences.
For every dollar invested in the State's major opera, theatre, and dance companies in WA - West Australian Opera, Black Swan State Theatre Company, West Australian Ballet - the Federal Government invests just 28 cents, compared with $3.89 in New South Wales, $1.79 in Victoria and 52 cents in South Australia.
This current imbalance of Federal investment favours job creation in the creative industries in New South Wales and Victoria at the expense of WA and Queensland, in particular.
WA is requesting an immediate $3.6 million increase from the Federal Government as an equalisation measure to reach its population share of Federal funding through the Major Performing Arts Framework for opera, theatre and dance.
This will create jobs, improve access for regional Western Australians and modernise a 20-year-old framework recognising the national importance of our companies and the significant population growth in the State in the last two decades.
WA does not want a repeat of the 2016 National Opera Review, which ignored the historic funding iniquity in opera which sees the Federal Government invest just 25 cents for every State dollar for opera in WA compared with 97 cents in South Australia and $4.71 in New South Wales.
As noted by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
"Western Australia is not looking for a redistribution of funding from other States, we just want a fair go at developing the arts sector.
"The creative industries of all States deserve equitable Federal funding support because not only is a thriving arts scene important for the cultural growth of a community, it also contributes greatly to tourism, jobs and economic prosperity.
"Over decades, Western Australia has proven that it's a fertile ground of artistic endeavour and success across all sectors, whether it's costume designers or ARIA winners."
