Australian arts at the crossroads

The arts sector has suffered enormously during COVID, but the truth is that for the last 25 years it has been severely underfunded and is now at a critical juncture. A lot has been written and said about the way the arts contributes to the economy and employment, but we mean to make plain to the Australian people that the arts is central to our national identity and individual lifestyles.

What we’re fighting for

A recent report written by Senior Economist at The Australia Institute, Alison Pennington, and Monash University academic, Dr Ben Eltham Creativity in Crisis outlines not only the devastation wrought on the third largest employer in the Australian economy and definer of our national identity after decades of neglect, but some policy and funding solutions.

That report forms the basis of this campaigns goals which are in general to push the government for:

1. More Australian culture on our screens, speakers, walls, stages and pages

2. More funding for our schools to generate the next wave of Australian musicians, actors, writers, performers and artists

3. More support for small and local Australian artists

How we’re going to do it

We’re going to launch a national campaign comprising of three elements: media outreach, stakeholder outreach, and political outreach.

In terms of ‘media outreach’, we are going to be in traditional media (TV, radio, print) like woodpeckers, arguing the case from every conceivable angle and addressing very specific concerns of different electoral cohorts. We will be running national and bespoke social media ads that address those same concerns and questions. We will unroll a digital strategy comprising a campaign website, e-petitions, geo-and interest targeting into specific marginal seats.

Our stakeholder outreach comprises reaching out to potential campaign Ambassadors, Supporters, and Allies. Ambassadors will represent the campaign in the media and in political engagement with politicians. Supporters will help with media; being available as case studies and partners for traditional media, sharing campaign content, or producing content for the campaign to use, such as testimonial videos on why you support the arts or how the arts changed your life or someone else’s life. We also hope to host local, state, and national events, fundraisers, and visual opportunities for stories. Okay, media stunts.

The political engagement involves inviting politicians on ‘site tours’ of arts facilities in their electorates. It will also mean setting up a multi-partisan ‘Friends of the Arts’ group in Canberra, targeting marginal seats with media, and possibly getting organised to door knock ahead of the election.

Who is involved in this campaign?

The people involved in running this campaign, so far, are David Latham, a PR Director, Lobbyist, Crisis Media Consultant, sometime journalist, and art appreciator; Jonny Clow and Alex Wadelton (Silver Lining Agency) who have worked for a combined four decades in advertising, but now specialise in social good for the not-for-profit sector. Alison Pennington is a Senior Economist at The Australia Institute and co-author of the recent Creativity in Crisis report. Dr Ben Eltham is a Lecturer in Media and Communications at Monash University, co-authoring the Creativity in Crisis report with Alison Pennington. Jeff Trounce is a Business Development and Stakeholder Management consultant, formerly of Hardie Grant and Lonely Planet.

Will you join us?

We have a strategic vision and campaign goals, what we’re missing are the connectors: people from the world of media and the arts who have big profiles, audiences, industry knowledge respect, and cut through. We are looking for Ambassadors, Supporters, and Allies. Will you join us to help #fundthearts

Fill out the contact form below or contact us directly to let us know if you want to help and how.

 Join our team or help out where you can