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Monday 8th August 2016 – Ben Eltham Platform Paper Launch

WHEN THE GOAL POSTS MOVE by Ben Eltham. Platform Paper #48 Launch

Patronage, power and resistance in Australian cultural policy 2013–2016.

6pm -7.15pm COLLINGWOOD ARTS PRECINCT
35 Johnston Street, Collingwood.
(the event will take place in the Circus Oz Melba Spiegeltent, cash bar).

Panel Discussion: Michelle Bennett (Presenter on RRR) will facilitate a discussion between Ben Eltham and fellow cultural policy thinker/writer David Pledger.

Event is free but bookings are essential: https://www.trybooking.com/MGBB

ABSTRACT
In this wide-ranging overview of the now notorious ‘Excellence Raid’ of Budget night 2015, when substantial public funding was ripped from the arts sector and awarded to the federal Ministry, Ben Eltham examines the purposes of power, the extent of the damage done and the future of the crippled Australia Council. He shows how its foundational pursuit of ‘excellence’ has been diverted from an aspiration to a commodity, counts the culling of artists and long-established service organisations, questions the silence that grasped the major players, records the scattered shrapnel; and reports signs of growing unity of purpose across the sector. Now in the shadow of the 2016 federal election, Eltham views the shattered structure and the Opposition’s restorative promises; and concludes that, when called upon, Australians still do recognise cultural value.They can – and do – still rejoice in sharing the idea of the public good.

Papers available from www.currencyhouse.org.au

 

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