Press release from Victorian Labor, Shadow Minister of the Arts
The Baillieu Government is expected to announce major funding cuts to Victoria’s world leading arts organisations, Shadow Minister for the Arts Lisa Neville said today.
Ms Neville said arts organisations were notified this week by telephone of the impending cuts.
Ms Neville said the Baillieu Government’s recent announcement of a 3.5 per cent arts funding cut on top of no indexation would devastate Victoria’s world renowned arts community.
“This funding cut of essentially five per cent may mean arts organisations will be forced to cut jobs and severely compromise their ability to produce high quality events,” Ms Neville said.
“This is a huge blow to Victoria’s world leading arts community, and will particularly hurt regional and rural Victorian arts organisations and operators.
“Small to medium arts organisations are already planning events for next year but the Baillieu Government’s funding cut will significantly effect their event program for next year.
“This is a callous act by Mr Baillieu and will hinder Victoria’s world leading arts organisations ability to maintain their competitive edge.
Ms Neville said Mr Baillieu should be investing in Victoria’s world leading arts community instead of slashing budgets and cutting jobs.
“This callous funding cut follows news of 50 job losses from Arts Victoria as part of the Baillieu Government’s 4200 public sector job cuts.”