Puny arts budget despite Giant benefits

The State Government released figures last weekend showing the economic impact of The Giants project during the Perth International Arts Festival — and what staggering figures they were.

Almost $40 million went into the State’s economy, with unprecedented State, national and international media coverage. The Government and private sector investment in the project has been returned in spades and the decision to invest in the project is to be applauded.

At the time of the project’s announcement there were many who dismissed it as an extravagance, however, in hindsight it has clearly been a wise investment when traditional income is drying up.

But it’s not all about economics — the smiles on the faces of the 1.4 million spectators at the three-day event would have told you something about the sense of wellbeing that arts events can bring.

By the way, the public purse investment per person attending the Giants ($2.36) was less than a return train ride for most people going to it.

Coincidentally, last month saw the release of a discussion paper about the future of arts and culture in this State. The Strategic Directions Framework is the first step in long-term planning for the arts and culture sector.

The Chamber of Arts and Culture has been championing the development of such a framework for some time, so we are pleased with this development as long as any resulting strategies are given the necessary resources to implement them.

The Giants In Langley Park. Picture: Mogens Johansen/The West Australian

Are we hopeful? Well, let’s take a look at recent history and how arts and culture have fared during the boom as far as government funding is concerned, particularly in the support of people and programs.

The budget figures for 2004-05 show total government expenditure was $12.72 billion and the arts appropriation was $128.28 million — one per cent of total expenditure.

In the 2014-15 budget, in total expenditure of $28.5 billion, the arts budget was $148.8 million, including $21.5 million of capital expenditure, or 0.52 per cent.

Effectively over 10 years, the contribution has halved compared with total government expenditure, with the decrease coming in a period when the population has gone from 1.98 million to 2.57 million — an increase of nearly 30 per cent.

If you remove the capital expenditure contribution, which can vary greatly, then 2004-05 was $115.67 million and 2014-15 is $127.27 million, an increase of $11.6 million (about 10 per cent) over the 10 years for delivery of service (ie, people and programs), with half of that increase coming from a bigger Lotterywest contribution.

The health budget has grown by $2 billion and the police budget has doubled in the past 10 years.

The police will tell you that February was devoid of antisocial behaviour in Northbridge while the Fringe World arts festival was on.

The Giants In Langley Park. Picture: Mogens Johansen/The West Australian

Clearly, as The Giants exercise has shown, art and culture have so much to offer beyond the intrinsic value from a decent investment.

You cannot just rely on the one-off events to underpin a tourism strategy for repeat visits. It is the layer of activities and experiences around the events that reinforce the livability of a city like Perth.

The arts offerings and institutions are an essential part of the landscape that includes small bars, street vibe, ecotourism and factors that make us unique, such as the importance of Aboriginal culture.

So can we see some forward thinking in the budget, some acknowledgment that the State cannot exist purely on a diet of minerals and energy?

Diversification is essential if the State is not going to remain a one-trick pony. Now is the time for enlightened investment in the cultural producers of this State — a statement of aspiration to be a creative and cultural hub in the region.

The extra investment needed is the equivalent of the “loose change” in the health or education allocations. Yet the returns are considerable in terms of community wellbeing, tourism and building a sustainable creative sector.

I am sure the Treasurer’s line will be that in tough times we all need to take a little medicine. Funny how the arts and culture have spent the past 10 years on a bread and water regime and never received the fortifying vitamins supplied to others.

Warwick Hemsley is chairman of the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA