Arts campaigners to stage National Day of Action

A group of arts organisations are planning a National Day of Action on Friday 17th June that will include banner drops at high-profile arts venues, a campaign encouraging artists and arts lovers to interact with anti-arts comments posted on mainstream media websites, and a demonstration outside Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s electoral office in the Sydney suburb of Edgecliff.

Organised by The Protagonists, a collective of artists and arts workers operating across and between disciplines, the Day of Action has the support of a range of industry representatives.

The Protagonists spokesperson Bek Conroy explained “we want to draw attention to the complete lack of arts policy from the Liberal Government (and) the National Day of Action was also a response to the recent defunding of organisations by the Australia Council for the Arts.”

Conroy said the day was also part of a longer term plan to encourage artists and arts-workers to become savvier about the future of the arts in Australia.

She told ArtsHub “there’s a lot of indication that there’s a haemorrhaging of good talent from the country because it’s already too expensive to live here … and now with the cuts to funding that are really impacting on independent artists most heavily, it doesn’t really make much sense to remain here in Australia.”

The National Day of Action also aims to highlight that the arts employ more people than agriculture, construction or mining and the creative industries generate $50 billion for the Australian economy.

In the coming weeks, postcards will be handed to visitors at national and state galleries, contemporary art spaces, university galleries, commercial galleries and art schools asking them to take action; and audiences and art lovers will be encouraged to sign a petition and post on social media about their support for the arts.

The campaign will also encourage art lovers to speak to their local Federal MP, write to politicians from all parties, and vote for the candidates with the best arts policies in the Federal election on 2nd July.

Supporting the Day, Elizabeth Ann Macgregor, Director of Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art stated “all of us working in the arts know the impact that they have on people’s lives.

“Over 11 million people a year visit galleries and museums – we are calling on all our supporters to stand up for the arts and make their voice heard.”

The Protagonists are also drawing attedntion to 50% of the previously supported small to medium arts companies having lost their funding as a result of the Federal Government’s cuts to the Australia Council.

These cuts will result in job losses and will have flow on effects across cultural industries, educational institutions and the commercial sector.

Social media hashtags for the National Day of Action are #istandwiththearts and #ausvotesarts.

Click here for more information on the National Association for the Visual Arts wesbite.

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