SA Writers Centre will be giving evidence on Friday at the upcoming Public Senate Hearing in Adelaide regarding Impact of the 2014 and 2015 Commonwealth Budget decisions on the Arts, and we will be  advocating for SA writers and the writing sector.  Our submission can be read here. A list of the public submissions received by the Committee can be found here.

The nature of the Public Hearing includes the following:

On the 16 June 2015 the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report:

1. the impact of the 2014 and 2015 Commonwealth Budget decisions on the Arts; and
2. the suitability and appropriateness of the establishment of a National Programme for Excellence in the Arts, to be administered by the Ministry for the Arts, with particular reference to:
   1. the effect on funding arrangements for:
      1. small to medium arts organisations,
      2. individual artists,
      3. young and emerging artists,
      4. the Australia Council,
      5. private sector funding of the arts, and
      6. state and territory programs of support to the arts,
   2. protection of freedom of artistic expression and prevention of political influence,
   3. access to a diversity of quality arts and cultural experiences,
   4. the funding criteria and implementation processes to be applied to the program,
   5. implications of any duplication of administration and resourcing, and
   6. any related matter.

For more information, please see the Parliament of Australia’s website.