As the region again misses out on a large chunk of arts funding a veteran Australian performer says governments should spend money on the arts and less on sport.
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Comedian Judith Lucy was speaking with the Mercury ahead of her shows with Denise Scott in the Wollongong Spiegeltent on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“In some respects [comedy] probably one of the art forms that does get a lot of support from the general public … But would I like to see governments put more money into the arts in Australia and a little less into things like, I don’t know, sport? Yes I would,” she said.
It comes as the Illawarra misses out again on vital funding from the NSW Government, this time for infrastructure from the Creative Capital Fund.
Would I like to see governments put more money into the arts ... and a little less into sport? Yes I would.
- Judith Lucy
The Minister for the Arts Don Harwin recently shared $350,000 across the arts, screen and cultural venues in Newcastle, Sydney and Western Sydney – but none in or around Wollongong.
A spokesman for Create NSW told the Mercury there was strong competition for this round of funding but welcomed arts organisations to apply for future grands.
“Applicants needed to clearly demonstrate that capital items purchased would be used primarily for arts and cultural purposes, and/or to improve the usability of arts and cultural facilities,” he said.
Fourteen different grants were handed out by Create NSW in a bid to boost capacity and public engagement across creative hubs and bring benefits for employment, regeneration and tourism.
“The independent panel determined that the successful projects showed meaningful engagement with their communities and opportunities for direct participation and enjoyment in the arts,” the spokesman said.
Organisations based in Newcastle LGA, Wollongong LGA, Western Sydney and Metropolitan Sydney are eligible to apply for matched funding of up to $60,000.