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Australia Council suspends, cuts programs following funding cuts

The Australia Council has cancelled its June grant round and suspended its six-year funding for organisations program, among other changes following $110m in funding cuts announced in the 2015-16 federal budget.

The Australia Council has also cut its ArtStart, Creative Communities Partnerships Initiative and Artists in Residence programs, while existing grant applications will be assessed in the September round. As previously reported by Books+Publishing, the Australia Council introduced the new six-year funding program in August last year.

In a statement the Council said the cuts announced in the federal budget equate to $23m ‘less than expected’ in 2015-16, with a total of $62m left after the money diverted to establish the National Programme for Excellence in the Arts is accounted for. The Australia Council said it will review its strategic plan and make further revisions over the coming months.

Almost 6000 people have signed an online petition against the cuts to the Australia Council, including authors Thomas Keneally, Alexis Wright, Kim Scott, J M Coetzee and Frank Moorhouse.

 

Category: Local news