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PRODID:https://v2.artsfront.com/event/vb7e2y9-little-lunch-online-llol
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DTSTART:20200417T020000Z
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URL:https://v2.artsfront.com/event/vb7e2y9-little-lunch-online-llol
LOCATION:Australia
SUMMARY:Little Lunch Online - #16
CLASS:PUBLIC
DESCRIPTION:LLOL #16 was a lunch in two parts. \nFirst up\, Australia Cou
 ncil's Executive Director of Strategic Development and Advocacy Wendy Wer
 e was in conversation with Anne Dunn on the topic of advocacy in the ti
 me of COVID-19 and beyond. \nThen in part 2 we got stuck into one of the
  questions raised in LLOL #13 - what are the practical things we can do 
 right now to get support to independent artists. \nHere is Anne Dunn's up
 date following Little Lunch #16\nLast Friday we had a useful discussion to
  explore whether there is any useful action/advocacy we could take in the 
 short and longer term to improve the position of artists and art workers. 
 In particular we looked at:\n$5m Resilience Fund from the Australia Counci
 l (AC) and whether it can be increased  or expanded How we can take act
 ion ourselves or connect with others to do some advocacy with people in th
 e sector and governments\, and to increase pressure on the Commonwealth Go
 vernment for an Arts Package?What can we do now to consider the future for
  artists and arts workers during the recovery period and beyond.\nWendy We
 re from the Australia Council clarified that the Council sees its role in
  advocacy for the arts as a whole and their focus is about the economic va
 lue and positioning the arts as an economic force\, as well as promoting t
 he social and cultural value of the arts. She described advocacy as making
  a case for the arts and changing people’s minds.  She made the distinc
 tion Important to make distinction between advocacy to government (educati
 ng and providing information to influence policy) and lobbying (putting di
 rect pressure on government to achieve specific outcomes) and identified t
 he role of the Australia Council (as an arm of government) as the former. 
 She suggested that it is most effective when taking action that we find pe
 ople who have influence to assist us with our advocacy and to focus on dec
 ision makers who can be persuaded to understand the critical need for inve
 stment. \n\nWendy informed us that the Australia Council is committed to 
 collecting and making available information that can be useful for the sec
 tor to undertake its own advocacy and that they regularly publish material
  on their website for public use.\n\nThe discussion that followed this pr
 esentation raised some concerns with the arts sector having economic value
  as its major focus. It was felt that the economic argument has been at th
 e forefront of advocacy for many years\, and has had little or no effect o
 n either governments or the public. Points raised include:\nWe are in a he
 alth crisis\, and the value of the arts in health and our experience in pr
 omoting good health needs more air spaceWe know the economic argument is i
 mportant now to ensure people keep a roof over their heads\, but this is n
 ot enough to ensure long term sustainabilityWe need to seek recognition th
 at the long term recovery for this nation will take time and provides an o
 pportunity to argue for an arts-led recovery across all facets of society 
 - the social\, cultural and economic benefits of the artsPresentation of t
 he statistics is not enough\, it is crucial we work with hearts and minds.
  We have to change the way in which advocacy is done\, not just what is be
 ing presented.We need to make people conscious of how the arts are contrib
 uting right now to people’s wellbeing – digital performances\, people
  singing from balconies\, choirs etc. This is an opportunity for all artis
 ts and the public. It’s about what is the value for the public and wha
 t we can do for the community to help us get through the crisis. What peo
 ple think we can do right now is:\nWe can each take action in our own comm
 unities to make our elected representatives across all tiers of government
  aware of the difficulties we are facing\, and the value we bring to recov
 ery from this crisis. Our individual approaches to politicians will have a
 n impact and they can be encouraged to talk to the relevant arts minister 
 about increasing support for artists and arts workers. In terms of the eff
 orts to secure an Arts Package from the Commonwealth Government\, getting 
 Government backbenchers to lend their support and take the issue up with C
 abinet Ministers would be very helpful. The Australia Institute has prepar
 ed a case and the ABS has produced the stats that support it. These are av
 ailable to everyonePeople could organise a grass roots campaign to encoura
 ge community support but this might be more effective as a longer term str
 ategyCurrently there are peak bodies who are very active in advocacy and l
 obbying for immediate crisis support – eg an Arts Package\, and changing
  Job Keeper eligibility. The most effective action we may be able to take 
 on this front is to support the work already being done\, add out voices t
 o this action rather than starting new action We can’t limit our thinki
 ng to just one campaign – we need grass-roots activity\, cross-portfolio
  collaboration\, across art forms discussion as well as skill development
 We need to keep talking to each other -  keep on doing things like Littl
 e Lunch On- Line where we can plan and dream together (thanks Arts Front a
 nd Feral Arts!)  \nWhat do we need to do to build a stronger future?\nBe 
 First Nations First in everything we do and sayBuild a better relationship
  with the public about our value. We have a brand issue with the word “a
 rts” as many people assume it means orchestras\, operas and ballets\, et
 c. and the work that sits outside the opera\, ballet and orchestra is the 
 most engaged with the communityConsider new forms of leadership amongst us
 . Times have changed\, old systems have let us down and new ones need to e
 merge that allow for different voices to be heard and new leadership to be
  seenDevelop community-based advocacy - getting a story together and shar
 ing that among ourselves\, with other parts of the sector and then with th
 e community Discover and recognise what is already happening and where pe
 ople are currently doing this advocacy in their communities.  Many peopl
 e are doing grassroots organising and mobilising \, particularly in Indige
 nous communities where Arts\, Advocacy and Activism is all the same th
 ing. We need to celebrate and learn from this actionActivate the 600 stron
 g Arts Leaders cohort developed by Australia Council investment over 10 ye
 ars\, now well-placed to use their influence and support future actionCons
 ider seeking to have a Royal Commission into “The Value of Creative Prac
 tice”Consider the world’s wisdom on “Living Wages” and whether the
 re is scope for such support in this country
DTSTAMP:20260925T204833Z
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