ACT Government’s four-year public arts scheme continues to roll-out with 12 more public art works scheduled to be installed this year.

One of the more recent artworks to be installed was the $200,000 Michael Le Grand piece entitled “Two to Tango” on London Circuit.

A spokesperson for ArtsACT said more works commissioned from the now defunct percent-for-art scheme will continue to roll out over the next six months.

He said the 2008-09 Budget funded the percent-for-art scheme over four years with 2011-2012 the final year.

However, the arts funding continues to be scrutinised by the ACT Opposition. Opposition Leader, Zed Seselja today claimed Canberrans need to question the priorities of the Government after the latest ABS figures found the Government spends $268.41 per Canberran annually on arts funding – almost $110 more per person than NSW.

“It’s astonishing to see ACT Labor prioritising arts funding while we don’t have enough nurses,

have the lowest number of GPs nationally, unfinished roads, broken footpaths and teachers that are among the lowest paid in Australia,” Mr Seselja said.

“Furthermore, most of Canberra’s cultural institutions are federally funded.

“So this $270 is going towards things like the hugely overpriced sculptures along the still unfinished Gungahlin Drive Extension, men walking up stairs that continue to be stolen, and the now iconic $400,000 owl on Belconnen Way.

“ACT Labor is clearly sending the message to the community that they regard public art as a higher priority than the improvement of basic services like roads, health and education.”

 

 

 

 

[box] Passersby may have noticed that the recently erected “Two to Tango” by Michael Le Grand in Glebe Park replaced another piece of art in the same place. The previous work was also by Le Grand, entitled “Tango”, it was on loan to the Territory for some years but has now returned to the artist’s collection. [/box]