Discussion paper - Making solid ground

A 2008 discussion paper on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts key organisations program.

Introduction

The Australia Council for the Arts’ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board is reviewing its key organisations funding program. This review is called Making Solid Ground.

This discussion paper seeks input from people and organisations with an interest in support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and provides a framework for a consultation process over the coming months. We welcome your response.

This paper invites discussion about how best to invest in infrastructure support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts. It is the first step in a nationwide consultation process for the review.

For more information about the consultations, please contact Mark Stapleton by phone (toll-free) on 1800 226 912 or email makingsolidground@australiacouncil.gov.au

Background

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board is reviewing its key organisation funding program to address some of the following issues:

• changes in the Indigenous funding landscape
• barriers to entry of new organisations into the funding program
• budget lock-up of funding and frustration of organisations outside the program
• lack of mechanisms for organisations to successfully exit from the program; and
• continuing financial pressure on Indigenous arts organisations.

In 2007, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island arts board dedicated 53% of the advertised grant category programs budget to key organisations funding.

This program – determined by Indigenous people – is the only national infrastructure support program for Indigenous arts across all artforms. Any changes to the program will take one year to fully implement and are likely to remain in place for several years before more change could be introduced.

Indigenous arts organisations face significant challenges around funding, staffing and community demands. These challenges exist within the context of the demise of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), potential changes to Community Development Employment Program (CDEP) and the Northern Territory emergency intervention policy.

The board also acknowledges the limited capacity of the Australia Council to support organisations to achieve all of their goals and objectives.

This review will help determine how the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board can help make Australia’s Indigenous arts sector stronger.

Terms of reference

The consultation process will be guided by the following terms of reference:

• define the goals and objectives of supporting key Indigenous arts organisations
• provide a broad assessment of current achievements of Indigenous arts organisations
• identify emerging trends, needs, and challenges for key Indigenous arts organisations
• map the Indigenous arts infrastructure in Australia and public and private sources of support to that infrastructure
• consider what the Australia Council can do to help organisations
• seek partnership arrangements with state and territory agencies to maximise support for the sector
  
• look at how the Australia Council can manage the category more effectively.

The review process is being undertaken within the functions of the Australia Council Act 1975.

Consultation arrangements

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board is seeking input through a nationwide consultation program. This discussion paper is the first step in the process.

The next step will be the distribution of an issues paper on 18 August 2008 to stimulate further discussion. It recognises concerns raised by the sector from 2007.

We invite you to send any issues or questions on the paper to Mark Stapleton or email makingsolidground@australiacouncil.gov.au

Open consultation meetings will be held in each state and territory between 18 August and 16 September. Anyone interested in the issue is welcome to attend. Following these consultations, a second discussion paper with outcomes from the meetings will be distributed.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board will discuss this feedback and propose a draft key organisations funding program in October 2008. This draft program will then be circulated widely for feedback and discussion before the board meets in November to finalise the program.

Any changes to the key organisations funding program will be announced in December.

Have your say

The Australia Council will host a dedicated web space at www.australiacouncil.gov.au/makingsolidground for the consultation.

We welcome feedback and comments.

Respond to the discussion papers

This discussion paper is being distributed widely, providing a framework for input and contribution. Individuals and organisations can make a contribution by phone, email, letter, submission. Indigenous arts organisations are welcome to one-on-one meetings with staff.

Come to a meeting

All interested people and organisations are welcome to attend consultation meetings that will be held in each state and territory between 18 August and 16 September. These meetings will each take one and a half days to cover all potential issues. All input will be provided to the board. A second discussion will then report on the themes, trends and emerging directions from these meetings.

The state and territory consultation meetings will occur in:

Victora (Melbourne)– 18-19 August

New South Wales– to be determined

Australian Capital Territory– to be determined

Tasmania (Hobart) – 25-26 August

Tasmania (Launceston) – 27-28 August

Northern Territory (Darwin) – 2-3 September

Western Australia (Broome) – 4-5 September

Western Australia (Perth) – 8-9 September

Queensland (Brisbane) – 10-11 September

Queensland (Cairns) -to be determined

South Australia (Adelaide) – 15-16 September

Contact Mark Stapleton if you wish to attend any of these meetings.

30 July 2008