Thread by @ShoebridgeMLC

Just spoke to @2SMNews and will be on @702Sydney at 7:45 talking about the Government’s dodgy grants - council grants and now bushfire grants horribly politicised and given to Coalition seats regardless of need

@2SMNews @702Sydney From 9.30am the inquiry into grants that I chair will be looking at Arts grants and how these have been unfairly allocated & created ridiculous application workloads for organisations #nswpol

@2SMNews @702Sydney You can watch this live here: parliament.nsw.gov.au/Pages/webcasts… We'll also try and live tweet what's happening. Also add next Monday to your diary: we'll have the Deputy Premier in the witness box.

@2SMNews @702Sydney For those wondering the Premier is STILL refusing to front up as is the Former Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton

@2SMNews @702Sydney We're live now with @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW and @RegionalArtsNSW as our first panel - they are the peak bodies for theatre, dance and regional arts respectively

@2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW Lack of consultation from @Create_NSW is a big problem with the theatre sector. Given the large economic return plus social health generated by the sector they feel undervalued and under-supported by Government.

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW Create NSW round 2 in 2018 is raised as a poor example of funding where a single large organisation (Sydney Symphony) got most of the $$ on offer and so many quality artists and smaller organisations missed out, despite expert recommendations to the contrary!

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW Only 2.7% of applicants in that round were successful - around 15-20% is usual which is a LOT of wasted time and organisational resources in applications for far too little funding.

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW There can be a tendency for grants to be skewed towards the larger agencies and organisations - questions about if this is because of their ability to lobby etc, and the impact of this on the health of the sector overall..

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW Now we've got John Wardle who is a consultant for the @LiveMusicOffice

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW @LiveMusicOffice We've had no support for music venues here in NSW and as a result many of them won't survive COVID.

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW @LiveMusicOffice The impact of JobKeeper being removed on the live music industry and venues will be catastrophic and it's something I'm really concerned about.

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW @LiveMusicOffice The most logical solution is keeping JobKeeper, but the next best option is a state based grant fund to keep venues and their workers afloat

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW @LiveMusicOffice Our witness now is Penelope Benton from @NAVAvisualarts - their compelling submission to the inquiry is here: parliament.nsw.gov.au/lcdocs/submiss…

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW @LiveMusicOffice @NAVAvisualarts These numbers are shocking

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW @LiveMusicOffice @NAVAvisualarts NSW has the largest numbers of artists of all the states and provides some of the lowest per capita funding. The grants process is so inconsistent and changeable that only a few artists are able to stay on top of this. The funding pool also isn't growing.

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW @LiveMusicOffice @NAVAvisualarts Lack of transparency continues to be identified as the biggest issue - announcements are coming out late, no clarity from Create NSW around process or criteria or even who is getting $ (and where applications were from)

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW @LiveMusicOffice @NAVAvisualarts There's a recommendation that when a Minister overrides an expert panel on funding there should AT LEAST be a requirement for some transparency and process about this. This seems like an essential reform.

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW @LiveMusicOffice @NAVAvisualarts We're now hearing from Jane McCredie from @WritingNSW - the organisation lost its ongoing state government funding at the end of 2020, as part of a decision to grant just 5% of long-term arts funding to literature.

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW @LiveMusicOffice @NAVAvisualarts @writingNSW The organisation has since received funding for 2021 but lost significant ongoing planning as a result and only have this for a year risking everything falling over again (and having to do twice as many applications)

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW @LiveMusicOffice @NAVAvisualarts @writingNSW There's a strong argument for multi-year funding instead of one year grants to allow organisations to plan ahead for a dynamic and visionary sector

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW @LiveMusicOffice @NAVAvisualarts @writingNSW Our afternoon panel is Government with Premier and Cabinet and @Create_NSW represented.

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW @LiveMusicOffice @NAVAvisualarts @writingNSW We're currently hearing about the difference between a funding commitment and a funding reservation - a commitment is more final than a reservation..

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW @LiveMusicOffice @NAVAvisualarts @writingNSW There is little clarity about which of these the promised money for a Conservatorium at the Wagga Wagga by-election, also not clear if there was a business case or anything like this. They've taken it on notice.

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW @LiveMusicOffice @NAVAvisualarts @writingNSW The Wagga Wagga by-election was on 8 September 2018. The Premier announced $20 million in funding for the area for a Conservatorium, apparently not based on any process or application. The business case for this still hasn't been received.

@GreensNSW @2SMNews @702Sydney @TheatreNSW @AusdanceNSW @RegionalArtsNSW @Create_NSW @LiveMusicOffice @NAVAvisualarts @writingNSW There's not overall calendar for when grant funding rounds are open - CreateNSW have promised to take a look to improve this