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New Minister for the Arts – Stay Active!

With a new Minister appointed to the Arts in the Morrison government, TNA urges the sector to keep up the pressure for the arts to be supported and valued.

 The new Arts Minister in the Morrison government is Paul Fletcher, Member for Bradfield, NSW, who is also Minister for Communications and Cybersafety.

In a media statement Paul said: ‘I am deeply honoured to be appointed as Minister for Communications, Cybersafety and the Arts’….‘I am also delighted that the portfolio includes responsibility for Australia’s vibrant and critically important arts sector.  Australia’s performers and creative artists are world renowned – and make a profound contribution to our national identity.’

Get in touch with Paul:
Lindfield: (02) 9465 3950
Canberra: (02) 6277 7480
Level 2, 280 Pacific Hwy Lindfield NSW 2070
Paul.Fletcher.MP@aph.gov.au

The electorate of Bradfield is highly creative – in 2016, there were 5,599 people employed across cultural and creative occupations, accounting for 7.1% of the total electorate workforce, compared to 3.9% of the national workforce.

TNA’s Nicole Beyer responded to the appointment in an Arts Hub article:

“We are pleased that Fletcher recognises the critical importance of the arts. We hope that this extends to recognising the critical importance of Australia’s artists – they are the most financially vulnerable right now, yet they are the ones shaping new narratives, celebrating diverse stories, and making work that is touring internationally. Yet this country has not been investing in artists in recent years – with the percentage of grants awarded at the Australia Council getting worse each round. Small grants can leverage incredible careers, as we have seen in music, theatre, dance, as well as literature and the visual arts – and take Australia to the world. The Minister can make a huge difference and immediately restore the full amount of funding back to the Australia Council.”

What can you do?

TNA calls on the sector to become more politically active. Now is the time to write to your local MP to let them know about your aspirations for this term of government. Find your local MP here. Tell them all about the creative workers and creative engagement in their electorate – find out more here.

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