Navigate to a section on this page
‘I want people to know what we have – and cherish it.’ Arts Minister, Tony Burke
A new government should abandon the application of neoliberal fantasies to the cultural sector. It should look to a new, democratic and participatory policy approach, looking to the public good, drawing on ideas of universal basic services, care, and social solidarity. It should remember that the purpose of government expenditure in art and culture is the right to art and culture for all of us.
The new arts minister, Tony Burke, has long advocated for addressing issues of insecure work and unreliable pay. The arts and cultural sector is an industry leader in insecure work. And it is at the intersection of cultural and industrial relations policy where our new arts minister could dramatically reshape the sector.
[Download Full Report] The 2019–20 financial year included both significant bushfires and the first four months of the Covid-19 pandemic. While Covid-19 dominates our every thought and every policy today, it is important to remember that this was not the…
Gough Whitlam brought arts policy to the fore both in the development of his reform agenda and during the election campaign. He drew a direct link between a healthy cultural sector, national identity and a flourishing political sphere: “The relation between politics and culture is clear and real. Political vigour has invariably produced intellectual and creative vigour.”
Canada spends more on public diplomacy than Australia spends on the whole of its foreign service. Excluding public broadcasting, France spends an estimated A$1.9 billion, Germany A$1.6 billion, the UK A$350 million, and the Netherlands A$100 million. Australia spends A$12 million.
ANAM Quartetthaus to host massive season of Australian music in London ANAM Quartetthaus represents the biggest leap in immediacy and potency for the string quartet as an art form since microphones and speakers arrived. – David Harrington KRONOS Quartet The…
Thoughts on the relationship between community, the arts, capitalism, engineering and inspiration.
Chris puts 10 questions to 10 Australian musicians. This month: Pianist/composer Mike Nock New Zealand born pianist/composer Mike Nock has been a widely recognised figure in Australasian music since his first Sydney recording in 1959 with the 3OUT Trio. He…
There aren’t many musicians who can boast an almost 70-year career at the top of their game. Jazz trumpeter Bob Barnard was one such musician, rare because from first till last, he dazzled. An unassuming man, he was more comfortable…
Different art forms enable us to develop a better understanding of ourselves, others and the world because the Arts activate our thinking and challenge our traditional systems and ways of being. Students themselves discuss how arts and cultural learning fosters their imaginations and creative intuitions as well as their self-efficacy in ways that other learning does not.
The Welsh government will establish a National Music Service to bring music education to every child and young person. The new music education plan announced recently has promised to make music accessible for all children and young people in Wales.…
Curriculum is the ‘what’ in teaching and learning. Usually, arts/music education advocacy ignores the curriculum or calls for it to change. Curriculum designers and developers definitely prefer the latter and, they’d like practice-based evidence to support the calls for change.…
Research has confirmed that participation in music-making brings well-being, a broad range of personal psychological benefits. For some young people, this positive experience can lead to a desire to become a professional musician. But life as a music professional can bring stress and mental health problems for some. Music educators must find ways to address this dilemma.
The next government must recognise the complexity, diversity and interrelatedness of all parts of the education system – students and families, early childhood, primary, secondary, vocational, higher education, and initial teacher education.
Tanya Plibersek probably will become education minister. She will have plenty to do. There are several pressing challenges in the education sector. These range from teacher shortages to concerns about school funding and student and teacher safety and well-being.
The introduction of poorly conceived course fee changes by the Federal Coalition Government in late 2020 was widely condemned, with a commitment made by the Labor Opposition to reverse them when it returned to office. These fee increases have significantly…
“The golden periods of jazz occur when changes are made, when new music and styles are created to reflect a changing world.” Gail Brennan, 1993. “Jazz recordings are powerful objects. The legacy of recorded jazz functions as the backbone of the music’s history and shapes our understanding of the past.” T. Whyton, Beyond a Love Supreme, 2013, 3
“Ensemble Liaison’s recent concert in Armidale was the best chamber music concert I have enjoyed in decades, and many Musica Viva regulars here were of the same opinion…”
A semi-staged performance of Richard Meale’s Voss in Adelaide turned out to be a fuller, more satisfying representation of this landmark opera than might have been expected. Some effective staging solutions plus high standard performances from the cast and Adelaide Symphony Orchestra made it a notable success.
“Each track grabs attention and demands to be heard with full focus.”
“A beautifully recorded album featuring a great contemporary jazz group playing an all original program of diverse compositions. There is much fire and interaction to be found within their readings of the pieces, which are both accessible and challenging.”
“Fire Dances brings together eight accomplished women composers with their individual interpretations of the impact and resonance of bushfires on people and landscape. The works are startlingly diverse and intricate, reflecting great resourcefulness and thought.”
“Making music that sounds more like the future than the past has been part of Johns’s DNA for all his adult life. He has never done that more deftly, more confidently, than he does here.”
“Van’t Hoff and De Jager paint an image of the late, great Brahms at the height of his powers.”
“A compelling disc that features excellent pianism and artistry from Jeanell Carrigan.”
Jeremy Sawkins’ album is a relaxed and gentle exploration of some beautiful music that soothes the mind and calms the senses. It’s a homage to music, love, and family.
“‘State Of Play’ is a selected and fascinating 2CD compilation by violinist Jon Rose, one of Australia’s most inventive and committed musical artists. CD1 contains 19 duos between Rose using a variety of violin based instruments and three guest artists. CD2 contains seven recorded formal music projects including the remarkable and beautiful ‘Singing Up The Harbour Bridge’. Of interest to any music lover.”
“Up for a trip? Oh, what a journey is the music of Tame Impala.”
