Policy on Arts for a Multicultural Australia Australia Council for the Arts, Policy on Arts 7. Monitoring and Evaluation for a Multicultural Australia, Sydney, Australia Council for the Arts, 1993. 7.1 Targets 7.2 Classification Criteria Contents 7.3 Evaluation of Objectives and Strategies The Australia Council and its Charter The Future Multiculturalism and Cultural Diversity Multiculturalism and Public Policy The Australia Council and its Charter Multiculturalism and the Arts The Australia Council was established in 1973 The Australia Council's Policy on Arts to support and encourage practice of the arts for a Multicultural Australia and to assist in the development of a strong cultural life in this country. The Australia - Aims Council Act of 1975 lists the following Council - Key Concepts and Practices functions: - Strategies • to promote excellence in the arts; 1. Appointments to Decision-making Bodies • to provide, and encourage the provision of, 2. Applications opportunities for persons to practise the arts; 2.1 Peer Assessment • to promote the appreciation, understanding 2.2 Information and enjoyment of the arts; 2.3 Financial Support • to promote the general application of the arts 3. Policy Development and Implementation in the community; 3.1 Multicultural Advisory Committee • to foster the expression of a national identity 3.2 Program Manager, Multicultural by means of the arts; 3.3 Implementation Committee • to uphold and promote the right of persons 4. Staff Appointments and Training to freedom in the practice of the arts; 4.1 Staff Appointments • to promote the knowledge and appreciation 4.2 Training of Australian arts by persons in other countries; 5. Australia Council's Relations with other Organisations • to promote incentives for, and recognition of, achievement in the practice of the arts; and 6. Research and Publications Making Multicultural Australia Policy on Arts for a Multicultural Australia 1 • to encourage the support of the arts by the population speak a language other than English States, local governing bodies and other at home. persons and organisations... In response to this diversity governments across The Council recognises that Australian society is Australia have committed themselves to the culturally and ethnically diverse. It believes that policy of multiculturalism. The policy is based Australian culture has been enriched, challenged on the belief that all Australians must be able to and altered by this diversity. Our culture is now contribute if our cultural development is to a multitude of cultures emerging from different reach its full potential. The policy therefore customs and beliefs, different social and seeks to create conditions whereby all of us can economic backgrounds. These differences are as participate in, and employ our skills and talents important for the continued negotiation and for, the cultural, social and economic benefit of development of a multicultural Australian the community. It stresses the need for active identity, as are the commonalities in our governmental and institutional intervention to community. ensure that the contributions of newly arrived migrants and longer standing Australians of In producing a policy on Arts for a non-English speaking background are valued Multicultural Australia, the Council recognises and encouraged appropriately. the distinctive relationship of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to the question of Multiculturalism also recognises that Australia is Australian identity. The policy seeks to ensure located geographically in the Asia-Pacific region that the indigenous people of Australia are and that its cultural, economic and historical closely involved in the national debate on our relations with the region are significant. In light cultural diversity. of our efforts to negotiate an Australian identity in the region, the policy emphasises the need to The Council acknowledges the right and the draw on local diversity in forging regional ties. means of all artists and communities to take part in shaping Australian culture. Its Access Multiculturalism and Equity Plan is based on the operating and Public Policy principles of the rights of artists and communities, social justice, peer assessment and The Commonwealth Government's National equality of opportunity. It seeks to identify Agenda for a Multicultural Australia rests on inequities and barriers to effective participation three footings: cultural identity and heritage, in the artistic and cultural life of Australia and social justice (access and equity) and economic to promote strategies to overcome them. efficiency. Multiculturalism Building a true sense of our cultural identity and Cultural Diversity means recognising and drawing on the diverse and significant contribution of Australians of Cultural diversity is a demographic and social non-English speaking background - a reality in Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait contribution that arises from their cultural Islander people, the original owners of the land, traditions and the contemporary development constitute some 1-2 per cent of the Australian of their artistic and cultural life. population. Immigration over the last forty years accounts for more than half of Australia's We affirm social justice principles in access and population growth. Of the total population, equity programs and policies. Access refers to 22.5 per cent are either of first generation non- the need to ensure that all Australians have the English speaking background or have at least opportunity to obtain information and services one parent born in a non-English speaking that are appropriate to their needs. Equity refers country. Approximately 14 per cent of the to the allocation of public resources in such a Making Multicultural Australia Policy on Arts for a Multicultural Australia 2 way that it is fair, without discrimination, and • develop policies and programs which support responsive in that any undesirable imbalance the work of individual artists and can be identified and redressed. communities; At the economic level it is vitally important to • identify the specific needs of artists and develop and utilise the skills and talents of all groups of non-English speaking background Australians. Marginalisation of people or the and identify barriers which prevent full denial of their skills and talents can lead, and in participation in the arts; the past has led, to a waste of human resources, economic inefficiency, and loss to the • support and promote dialogue between the community as a whole. Indigenous peoples of Australia and non- English as well as English speaking peoples. Multiculturalism and the Arts A policy for multiculturalism and the arts rejects Multicultural policy in the arts needs to narrow definitions of excellence, culture and encompass these three broad principles of the artistic practice. Instead it highlights the National Agenda. The policy must address the importance of viewing these terms in their diversity of Australian society and, in particular, appropriate cultural contexts. recognise the specific experiences of people of non-English speaking background. It is The policy should, therefore, provide a broad necessary, therefore, for the government, its framework which encompasses the many agencies and the community to: activities and practices of artists and communities of non-English speaking • acknowledge that the arts play a crucial role background, together with strategies which can in shaping the social, economic and cultural respond to their needs. A policy for environment; multiculturalism and the arts does not just highlight heterogeneity; it also acknowledges • acknowledge that notions of artistic excellence that society and culture are dynamic and and merit encompass a broad range of changing rather than static and fixed. creative activity and cultural traditions; The Australia Council’s Policy • create an environment in which all on Arts for a Multicultural Australians can contribute freely; Australia • promote, through flexible institutional The policy on Arts for a Multicultural Australia structures and broad administrative objectives was introduced within the Australia Council in and practices, definitions which are culturally 1989. It was recognised that policies are never inclusive; final and need to be reviewed and developed from time to time. The latest review was made • reflect the diversity of Australia's culture in 1992. This statement represents the policy for through broad, flexible and representative the next triennium. administrative structures and procedures and comprehensive cultural definitions. The policy is applicable across all Boards and Units of the Council, whose Corporate Plan And specifically in relation to people of non- includes a commitment to the policy. It is thus English speaking background to: integrated into all arts support programs, the administration, the provision of advice and • develop arts and cultural policies and information on Council programs, and funding programs that reflect the multicultural nature allocations. of Australian society; Making Multicultural Australia Policy on Arts for a Multicultural Australia 3 The policy is developed at a number of levels: Key concepts and practices within Council and its multicultural advisory Committee, and within the art form Boards and The policy is a culturally inclusive one. It Units. This work proceeds with the assistance requires that the key terms that relate to aspects and advice of the Council's Program