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Canberra Today 25°/29° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Arts changes bring mixed view

HOT upon our recent report that ACT ArtsAbility officer Caro Roach had won an award from the ACT Down Syndrome Association, comes news of the de-funding of the Community Arts Office in which she works.

The office, housed in the North Building, is home to a manager, the indigenous arts officer, the ArtsAbility officer and the multicultural arts officer.

In response to the Loxton review of the arts in Canberra, Arts Minister Joy Burch has proposed the transfer of the function of Community Arts Office  to the Belconnen and Tuggeranong Arts Centres, two of the “arts hubs” recommended by Loxton.

The minister has asked that the scope of the community arts officers be expanded beyond the current single focus for specific community sectors to “a more holistic approach.”

The move has shocked those used to the current model, but drawn enthusiastic support from other arts workers, who say the old model of separate portfolios within the community arts is outmoded.

Manager Andy Heaney, who will leave the office in several weeks for a Commonwealth Government job, told “CityNews” the decision had been revealed in late September by the director of artsACT, David Whitney, who told Heaney the office would be closed at the end of this year.

“We lobbied like crazy,” Heaney said, “with the result that the jobs in the office have been guaranteed until December 31, 2012.”

The issue surfaced again last week when Greens MLA Amanda Bresnan raised the matter in the Legislative Assembly, arguing that the move “would impact significantly on access and equity in the arts, and on cultural development in Canberra.”

While Heaney said he had no problem with a change of location, he challenged Ms Burch’s view that good specialist arts workers can also work with the community at large, saying the new jobs would not be culturally “identified.”

He said the office had a solid track record of achievement, “keeping people connected, advocating between the complex needs of arts and health, language and cultural issues.”

Callers to “CityNews” have weighed in to the contrary, saying the officers have under-achieved and that their claims of success are exaggerated.

As for the relocation out of Civic, which one caller charged would erode access, a spokesman for Ms Burch said, “people live in Tuggeranong and Belconnen, too.”

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Ian Meikle, editor

Helen Musa

Helen Musa

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