Victoria's New Arts Minister Urged to Reverse Funding Cuts

Vicki Ward, the newly appointed Creative Industries Minister in Victoria, faces mounting pressure to restore funding to arts organizations that were cut by Premier Jacinta Allan and former Minister Colin Brooks. A total of eight organizations, including the Public Galleries Association and Snuff Puppets, have lost their entire funding, with Snuff Puppets seeing its annual support of $112,000 eliminated. Additionally, six public galleries, such as the Castlemaine Art Museum and the Jewish Museum of Australia, had their four-year funding reduced to just two years. The Royal Melbourne Philharmonic, established in 1853, also lost advantageous lease support at the Drill Hall. A petition opposing the funding cuts to Writers Victoria has garnered 11,000 signatures, prompting a debate in the Legislative Council. The opposition, led by Shadow Minister David Davis, has filed FOI requests and referred issues to VCAT. Two reviews of the Regional Partnerships Program and Industry Service Organizations are perceived as potential precursors to further reductions. Notably, Ward lacks prior experience in the arts, having previously managed portfolios in Emergency Services and Natural Disaster Recovery.