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Arts groups angry at cuts

Perth artists have joined national protests against what they say is a threat to the vibrancy and freedom of a creative Australia from Federal Arts Minister George Brandis.

In changes announced in last week's Budget, $105 million will be stripped from the Australia Council over the next four years for Senator Brandis to set up his own arts program to introduce funding "contestability".

Critics say this will cause needless bureaucratic duplication, threaten the viability of smaller community arts groups and undermine the long bipartisan principal of arms-length funding to avoid political censorship.

Former Australia Council chairwoman Margaret Seares told a protest rally in the Perth Cultural Centre the move was like robbing Peter to pay Paul and left many arts groups in limbo.

"I would encourage the Government to have another look at this and see whether there is value in having these two programs," Professor Seares said. "The last thing we want to see is this divide and rule between different parts of the arts."

Senator Brandis' move blindsided State funding agencies that support arts projects jointly with the Australia Council, which has suspended some grants.

Independent artists, the backbone of Fringe World, and community arts events, "the engine room of innovation", would be hit hardest, Blue Room Theatre chief Kerry O'Sullivan said.