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 Is this the end of classical music in Australia?November 2, 2008 at 12:12 AM I was one of many lucky people to have attended the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM). I can unreservedly say that I would not be the violinist I am now and not in the job I am not without the unique programs that this institution offers it's students. I had access to fantastic facilities, huge performance opportunities and some amazing Australian and international visiting artists. Before the days of ANAM, a student who was serious would have no option but to head overseas after their degree, but now, there's a place where the teachers come to us!That was, until last week. About a week ago, the Australian Government announced a complete withdrawal of funds from the Australian National Academy of Music. This amounts to about A$2.6 million per anum. Quite small when you consider that a recent calculation on sports funding told us that each olympic gold medal in the last 20 years cost tax payers $40 million. That's for ONE gold medal! The philosophy of funding at the Australian Institute of Sport is that if a sport performs well it gets more funding; if a sport performs badly then it gets less funding. ANAM in the last 4 years has improved its standard, the programs it offers and the its graduates are winning almost all of the orchestral jobs on offer in Australia. The ANAM staff, students and alumni are, as you can imagine extremely upset by the move, not only because of the here and now. We all fear for the future of music performance and training in Australia. If the Academy does get shut down, the best graduates from our universities and colleges will go straight overseas and probably stay there with their talent. All this will have a noticeable effect on our orchestras and education in years to come. For many of us, we feel this is the beginning of the end. Here are a few links on the news and also a petition set up by ANAM, to petition the Government to keep the school open. ANAM site, with an explanation and documentary about the group Any support including signing of the petition will be appreciated by the ANAM community and indeed, anyone concerned about the arts in Australia. The arts struggle everywhere, but this is ridiculous. Graeme Norris From Christian Vachon
Hi,Posted on November 2, 2008 at 12:28 PM This is very disturbing news indeed. We here in Canada are facing similar cuts to the Canadian Arts Council by the Federal Government (see the spots on unissonsnosvoix.ca). More puzzling to me is that these cuts in the Arts (especially education) seem to be a world-wide phenomenon going on all over the place at the same time. I fail to understand the why and who's behind it since it seems almost too widespread to be mere coincidence... From Corwin Slack
This is truly tragic--no funding for classical music education. The violin, clarinet and french horn look headed for the dustbin of history like the Theremin, glass harmonica, cymbalon, the alto flute and the Fluegelhorn. Posted on November 2, 2008 at 4:26 PM I join you in your call for renewed funding and I call also for the funding of training in the rebec, the harmonica, the banjo, the jaws harp, and the didgeridoo. The tragic lack of public funding for these instruments robs society of important links to a rich cultural heritage. I also call for funding for education for Big Bands, concert bands, tap dancing, and barbershop quartet singing.
From Michael Divino
what a tragedy!
Posted on November 2, 2008 at 6:13 PM From Corwin Slack
I thought that Australia's government shifted leftward after John Howard. How can a left leaning government stab the arts in the heart like this? Isn't the Left about Hope and Change?
Posted on November 2, 2008 at 7:17 PM From Anne-Marie Proulx
I really wish you that everything is going to be fix soon...Posted on November 2, 2008 at 8:33 PM Anne-Marie
From Giovanni Gammuto
In the mid 80's I lived, and worked in The Land of Oz. I must say that it was an absolutely woderful experience. The national treasure of the country is its diverse, hard-working, and fair-minded people. I did note however that the political environment went a alittle crazy every so often, and created strife and discontent. To the Aussie's credit, everything did get "adjusted" when the people became aware of what was really going on, and got more involved. This is not a beer truck drivers strike that often gets resolved before nightfall. It will take longer, and require some sacrifices (like we have done here, and will be forced to do for awhile longer). Take to the streets, get the press involved, get as beligerent as GreenPeace did when they tried to dam up that river in Tazmania!!!!!!!
Posted on November 2, 2008 at 9:08 PM From Nicole Stacy
Posted on November 3, 2008 at 12:09 AM You unquestionably have my support, but unfortunately petitions seem to be a dime a dozen in these times...make a LOT of noise, be as radical as you can afford. From Gerard Tan
Posted on November 3, 2008 at 4:18 AM I too am disturbed by out federal govt's lack of funding to the arts. To be fair, Sports should take a similar cut as well. It's a pity that people like Richard Tognetti and Niki Vasilakis are not household names here in Oz. Yes, I have signed the petition and will also be emailing fellow Aussies to direct them to the petition site.
From Corwin Slack
Posted on November 3, 2008 at 7:20 AM By the way I like your Kinkakuji profile picture. It is, as they say, natsukashii. From Graeme Norris
Posted on November 3, 2008 at 11:01 AM Thanks everyone for your messages of support. There is a lot of noise being made and the media are starting to get on board which can only be a good thing when it comes to public awareness of the cause :)
From Dimitri Musafia
Posted on November 3, 2008 at 5:03 PM They're doing the same in Italy too, sadly. The new Minister of Education says that we have 70 conservatories "too many" and that they are a source of waste of taxpayers money, meaning they're sharpening the axe... Christian, you wonder why they're doing the same in different countries world-wide? The answer is quite simple, unfortunately. Classical music doesn't generate enough money anywhere to adequately fund corruption.
From Dimitri Musafia
Posted on November 3, 2008 at 5:16 PM Actually, though, for those lovers of conspiracies, I do have a darker theory too. What does the movie industry, the Nintendo and Playstation people, sports teams and most especially the communications biz (everything from satellite TV to the latest cellphones) all have in common? They want our time. And if we don’t have time to spend our money on their offerings because we prefer to practice the violin instead, that’s a problem for them.
From Paul G.
Posted on November 3, 2008 at 6:05 PM I hope things get better and classical music isn't withdrawn, That can't happen can it? Lose it? If it happens in Australia, I dont see anything stopping it from happening here in America. From Paul G.
Posted on November 3, 2008 at 6:05 PM I hope things get better and classical music isn't withdrawn, That can't happen can it? Lose it? If it happens in Australia, I dont see anything stopping it from happening here in America. From Joy Laydbak
Posted on November 3, 2008 at 7:10 PM As the parent of a young child and a musician since I was very little myself, I've worried about the lack of music education in schools here in America. It has been proven that learning a musical instrument challences a young child's mind and increases their math and science abilities later in life. Including orchestra's, bands, and choirs into elementary education would have a possitive effect on our society, but the programs are being cut instead. It is as though being a musician is not considered a "real job." That's the attitude all the councellors had when I was young. They told me not to become a musician. I'd never be able to pay the rent. It's not a real occupation. So I went to college, majored in science, and had a huge void in my life. At 30, I took up the violin to fill it, but maybe there wouldn't have been a void if I'd pursued my passion instead. It's saddening to hear that Australia has also deemed music unnecessary. From Corwin Slack
Posted on November 4, 2008 at 11:55 PM Paul G. How much federal money do you think goes to fund conservatory education in America? The answer is that conservatories do not depend in any material way on federal funding. This entry has been archived and is no longer accepting comments. |
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