Media release issued Sept 22
The Arts Minister Elise Archer announced on Sept 18 that “The Cultural and Creative Industries Act 2017 includes an independent system of peer assessment and expert advice in all funding decisions under Screen Tasmania and Arts Tasmania. However, all grant recipients have a responsibility to ensure they use funding appropriately and within the guidelines of the law. Accordingly, to maintain the integrity of this independent process, I have asked for the assessment process to be reviewed to ensure that illegal activities are not promoted or endorsed.”
Our position is that, far from maintaining the integrity of the process, such a review threatens the independence of screen funding in the state. The decisions of Tasmania’s arts funding bodies Screen Tasmania and Arts Tasmania must remain independent of the politics of the day. Interference in this process, or even the suggestion of it, will tarnish these agencies' reputations, their relationship with filmmakers and artists and the state’s reputation as a place of artistic excellence.
At a time when creative workers face diminishing opportunities and great economic uncertainty, the last thing they should have to worry about is a fight to maintain their artistic integrity.
We agree with Minister Archer’s statement that Screen Tasmania’s production funding decisions are based on an independent system of peer assessment and expert advice. The process is appropriately at arms-length of government and therefore the assessment process does not need to be reviewed in this case.
We call on all members of parliament to throw their support behind Tasmanian screen businesses and filmmakers during this challenging time so that we can get back to work - work that shapes and reflects our culture and contributes to the state’s economy.
Further enquiries:
Abi Binning
Executive Director - Wide Angle Tasmania
Email: [email protected]
Ph: 03 6223 8344 or 0437 987 003
W: www.wideangle.org.au
This statement is issued by Wide Angle Tasmania and supported by the following filmmakers, screen business owners and individuals:
Michael Gissing
Paul Moran
Susanne Schantz
John X
Matthew Newton
Ricky Pfeiffer
Yolanda Smith
Matthew Newell
Rebecca Thomson
Anthony Dickinson
Geraldine Robertson
Rogan Brown
Lisa Gormley
Vivien Mason
Mark Thomson
Martine Delaney
Annie Venables
Sharon Connolly
Felicity Wilkinson
Kate Boden
Elise Stansfield
Timothy Powell
Lara Van Raay
Rob Blakers
Angeline Drury
Jose Navarro
Deidre McMaster
Helen Edwards
Bella Young
Brian Smith
Emma Wilson
Andrew Del Vecchio
Rose Schramm
Lucien Simon
Daniel James
Kalli Reid
Catherine Pettman
Tobi Armbruster
Benjamin Stephenson
Roger Scholes
Gina Edwards
Tim Cooper
Fiona Lloyd
Janiebelle Reilly
Glenn Paton
Chris Kamen
Dave Tottle
Stuart Hobson
Sam Campbell
Hamed Zaremoghaddam
Eliya Cohen
Ella Kennedy
Tom Roberts
Melanie Sandford
Graeme Richardson
Finn Clarke
Brad Harris
Paula Hatton
Eleanor Downes
David Rowlands
Simon Nasht
Briony Kidd
Sara Glaoua
Tim Paige
Shaun Wilson
Eloise Murphy
Bessie Byrne
Nathan Collinson
Daniela Brozek
Marcus Knott
Kylie Eastley
Rose Vallentine
Thomas Waugh
Joseph Cann
Tony De Cesare
Alexandra Hullah
David Hudspeth
Fraser Johnston
Additional support for the statement (received after the media release was issued) include:
Troy Melville
Scott Fraser
Cary Littleford
Dan Broun
Bruce Moyle
Celia Boden
Johnny Reid
Andy Ciddor
Nubar Ghazarian
Eleanor Tucker
Letitia Lamb
Anna Cadden
Kasimir Burgess
Tasmanian Filmmakers Alliance
Women in Film and Television (WIFT) Australia - Tasmanian chapter
Jane Wilson
Nadira Farid
Heather Doubleday
David M
Clancy Walker
Ela Furdas
Tony Wright
Rolf de Heer
Molly Reynolds
Brett Nutting
Wendy McLeod
Tara Carroll
Noel McPharlin
Gill Shilling
Susan Haley
Peter McInnes
Judith Colquhoun
Robert Thompson
Sue Wayne
Be the first to comment
Sign in with