Recently I learned that a number of regional galleries and three of NSW's regional art boards were unsuccessful in securing four-year funding from the state government through Create NSW
While Minister for the Arts John Graham has asked we wait for the two-year funding decisions to be finalised, many of the organisations needing financial support will have already had their planning for the future disrupted.
This morning there's an interview being broadcast that I recorded with ABC Riverina yesterday, where I outlined some of the benefits of funding creativity.
There's data that shows Australians engage with the arts more than sport, although I think it's a bit of a false equivalence since both activities reflect our national culture.
One of my themes is that spending money on cultural practices is an investment in the future.
When you look at art you are able to get a perspective through the senses and thoughts of another person, so art builds empathy -- which is sorely needed in contemporary times.
It is at best ironic and at worst a sad indictment on NSW's arts ecosystem that one fifth of the regional arts boards were denied funding in this round, as they are the organisations placed to assist non-metropolitan communities to access grants.
Orana Arts is one board that was denied funding and I've been part of their innovative Studio Collab project for a few years, gaining opportunities to learn and collaborate and network with other regional artists.
I'm grateful for their residencies and other opportunities to promote creative practices, such as my talk on the cut-up technique.
Brian Eno has argued in a recent book that, where children learn through play, adults learn through art.
I think it's an important idea, since we gain perspectives and learn new capacities through experiencing culture.
It's as simple as feeling emotions when watching TV, those aren't considered art often enough to recognise the skills developed by a team of people to present interdisciplinary media.
In my ramble with journalist Sally Bryant I mentioned how 40 years ago the band Mental As Anything had a hit song called 'Live It Up'.
That band was a group of art school students and their exhibitions were opened by prime ministers, but their music was an unexpected outcome from their creativity (and possibly a desire for free drinks).
The song 'Live It Up' went on to appear on pop music charts around the world for two years, even returning to the Scottish charts as recently as five years ago.
It is one of our enduring cultural exports and an example of how something like free art education can lead to surprising outcomes.
As the world becomes increasingly fueled by (so-called) artificial intelligence, there's a need to invest in art to develop human creativity.
There is also a need to promote art-making for the benefits in developing empathy and, as careers are lost to AI, it will offer a balm in the well-being that arises from engaging in activities within our communities and sharing in the joy of creating.
NSW teachers were recently told the creative domain was a focus in the High potential and gifted education policy and that's exciting as it's an area that I believe can be taught.
However, every teacher knows the role of modelling to demonstrate their lessons and it's vital for students to see the arts are valued.
So, c'mon NSW State Government, Create NSW needs funding to give the arts a boost and regional communities deserve better.
