Several days ago we listed the Greens’ Performing Arts policy, today we have the ALP’s Arts Policy “Investing In A Creative Australia”.  We look forward to being able to compare policies if the Coalition releases one before the election.

Labor’s Arts Policy includes:

• Moving funding programs from the Minister’s Department (DEWHA) to the arms-length funding body, The Australia Council
• $10 million for the Australia Council to invest in up to 150 new artistic works, presentations and fellowships.
• Commitments to complete the National Cultural Policy and Strategic Contemporary Music Industry Plan
• Negotiate a new model for supporting Major Performing Arts Organisations “which rewards success, provides greater access for Australian audiences, promotes enhanced artistic excellence, and ensures prudent levels of accountability from major performing arts organisations”

The Australian Greens have launched a policy platform to help ensure a vibrant future for the performing arts in Australia.  When the other major parties launch arts policies during this election campaign we will include them on this website as well.

The International Year of Youth – Dialogue and Mutual Understanding.

August 12, 2010 – August 11, 2011

The United Nations Youth Association of Australia has asked the ALP, Coalition and the Greens to answer 9 questions on youth issues during this election campaign.  

Left Right Think-Tank is involved in running “Arts Election 2010″ a forum to engage young people more deeply in the election campaign around the issue of Arts and Cultural Policy.

A performance described as “beautiful music with a surprise around every corner” by MCA head, Richard Letts, captured the 2010 MCA Freedman Jazz Fellowship for Melbourne-based jazz guitarist, Ben Hauptmann.

At its meeting yesterday, ArtsPeak, the confederation of 25 Australian national
peak arts organisations voiced its concern at the invisibility of the arts in the federal election campaign.

AYMC’s Erinn Swan was a guest on the Shake Up last friday on Triple J’s Hack talking about the Federal Election.  Hack also covered the I ♥ MUSIC AND I VOTE facebook group, funding for contemporary music and policy discussions about the arts.

To celebrate the International Year of Youth and AYMC’s first birthday we’re holding a Youth Music Conference on 25 September, 2010. We want to look at the issues facing young musicians, hear from a range of speakers from different backgrounds, and discuss the way forward for the AYMC and youth music in Australia.

Marcus Westbury and Ben Eltham recently wrote an essay on Australia’s need for a Cultural Policy, and re-thinking how Governments make policy decisions about culture.