We were welcomed by Ann Mossop who then introduced the chairperson Monique Schafter . Schafter then introduced the high-flying panel – Nick Atkins , Michael Lynch CBE AM , Lily Shearer and Tamara Winikoff OAM and there was an intense , exuberant discussion.

Nick Atkins is currently the Producer for Q Programs at The Joan and Board Member of PACT Centre for Emerging Artists. His work at The Q has seen him develop and implement the Young Artist Program. Previously Nick worked as the Associate Producer and Co-Artistic Director of Crack Theatre Festival. From this role he collaboratively programmed the festivals presentation, panel and master class series.

Michael Lynch has led some of Australia’s most prominent arts companies including Sydney Theatre Company, the Australia Council for the Arts and the Sydney Opera House. From 2002 to 2009 he was chief executive of the South Bank Centre in London and has also served as Director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and as a board member of Film Victoria. Michael was the CEO of the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong until 2015 and is now the chair of CIRCA as well as the Sydney Community Foundation.He has just been appointed interim head of the National Art School.

Lily Shearer is a proud citizen of the Murrwarri Republic and Ngemba Nation (north-west NSW/south-east QLD), Lily has over thirty years of experience in First Peoples Cultural Development, Arts Management and in theatre and performance making. She is currently a freelance performance artist, cultural collaborator and a founding and volunteer member of the Mooghalin Artistic Directorate.

Tamara Winikoff is Executive Director of the National Association of Visual Arts (NAVA) and well known in Australia as an arts advocate, cultural commentator and senior arts manager. Tamara has been involved in arts management for over thirty years and has spoken, written and published extensively about cultural and design issues.

Most of the questions and panel discussion was about how the arts industry – both big and small companies – can survive the massive Australia Council cuts and where do we go from here ? how does the industry adjust and survive ?

The first part of the panel discussion considered the recent election , the Australia Council cuts and the lack of a Coalition Arts policy. Atkins advised that he feels extremely vulnerable and that PACT where he works will have to undergo a radical restructuring in order to survive. He reminded us that it is extremely tough to be a young artist especially in Western Sydney .

Winikoff pointed out that it is not just the visual arts community affected but everyone. She lamented the devastating loss of support and infrastructure and the way the government does not understand or respect what artists do and gave statistics such as that over 90% of people in the community value the arts and over two million people here in Australia are actively involved in the arts as active observers if not participants. How can the government get away with the cuts?

Shearer said that her organisation has been extremely lucky but also that she feels deeply for her brother and sisters who have had their funding cut. She reminded us that this drastically affects the infrastructure of the arts community and wants to further develop sharing of ideas and funding models etc. How can they build foundations and try to expand when they are cut from under them ? How much freedom do they have really when they don’t have a voice and have to continually work on funding development and four year plans ? where do they go from here?

Atkins pointed out that he wants to create an environment where they governement can’t afford not to fund the arts and mentioned sharing with the LGBTI groups. Lynch responded that we need to get smarter with the use of technology and appealing to the younger audience. Winikoff reminded us about the National Day of Action and said that the examples of Atkin’s and Shearer’s communities provide of sharing is terrific. Atkins in discussion about small -to -medium arts organisations talked about the us vs them mentality and the tension between groups.

Lynch suggested that he was surprised that the large organisations have been extraordinarily slow and not done much to show support and that they should do lots more to address the situation immediately . He continued ,saying that we need to be seen to support activities that encourage community building and to challenge the government to instigate some activity to look at the arts. Tamara added that there should be far more collaboration not competition.

Towards the end of the discussion the topic turned towards arts education .Winikoff spoke out about the gradual attrition of art schools and Lynch agreed that creatives particularly need a number of options , merging is not a good thing and that the unis/colleges teach creatives that will become cultural leaders of the future. He also pointed out that the current appalling situation has in fact led to one good thing – that people are now talking across genres .Shearer agreed but said that her people have always talked and collaborated across art forms. The floor was open to audience questions .

Winikoff pointed out that the arts is a $50 million industry and creates audiences .Lynch reminded us that as tax payers we deserve to be supported and should stand up more and support the arts strongly. Winikoff also put in a word about how a lot of arts workers provide hours and hours of unpaid voluntary work .Atkins briefly mentioned how the niche/somewhat unpopular works go towards supporting more of the larger ‘middle class’ blockbuster works. ..

The panel was then thanked and the session closed.

Running time one hour and fifteen minutes.

State of the Arts the latest Culture Club talk was at the Sydney Opera House 2 August 2016 .Next talk is John Cleese August 15 .