David Pledger takes stock of "the erasure of the arts from the public consciousness of government" happening across the globe and asks what we can do about it.
'On the fifth day of the last month of the last year of last decade, Australia’s conservative government erased the Federal Ministry for the Arts.
Erasure is emblematic of ideologically driven systems regardless of the wing, left or right. Some person, idea or practice hitherto considered vital seems suddenly to lose value and is airbrushed from history. But in truth, the practice of erasure increases by stealth. Because, in truth, the erasure of Arts Ministries began in our country five years ago in the State of Victoria and again in South Australia last year. The erasure of the arts from the public consciousness of government is as damaging as deep funding cuts.
Which is what happened last November in the Global North when the Flemish government announced cuts of 60% to project funding, 6% to the small-medium sector and 3% to cultural institutions whilst increasing funds to various heritage initiatives. This shook the European contemporary arts scene because Flanders, the northern region of Belgium, has for the past twenty years been Europe’s most influential player.' ... Keep reading on ArtsHub
'On the fifth day of the last month of the last year of last decade, Australia’s conservative government erased the Federal Ministry for the Arts.
Erasure is emblematic of ideologically driven systems regardless of the wing, left or right. Some person, idea or practice hitherto considered vital seems suddenly to lose value and is airbrushed from history. But in truth, the practice of erasure increases by stealth. Because, in truth, the erasure of Arts Ministries began in our country five years ago in the State of Victoria and again in South Australia last year. The erasure of the arts from the public consciousness of government is as damaging as deep funding cuts.
Which is what happened last November in the Global North when the Flemish government announced cuts of 60% to project funding, 6% to the small-medium sector and 3% to cultural institutions whilst increasing funds to various heritage initiatives. This shook the European contemporary arts scene because Flanders, the northern region of Belgium, has for the past twenty years been Europe’s most influential player.' ... Keep reading on ArtsHub