Government funding of music

Whilst sitting at the Musica Viva performance, it got me thinking? The ensemble was fine, nothing to blow your socks off, but competent enough. Although I am sure there are Australian ensemble's who could also have done the repertoire justice.

However, I noticed that in the repertoire, only one piece was by an Australian composer. This genre of classical music and others as performed by the Symphony Orchestras and Opera Companies don't do very much to promote Australian composers. There is often a token, one piece by an Australian, but rarely more. The domain of presenting new works seems to lie with relatively newer and more adventurous ensembles, who receive crumbs of funding if any at all.

Which led me to my next thought. Why is public money funding the touring of international classical musicians around Australia when Australian artists find it so hard to tour in their own country? Let alone why are we paying for their travel to Australia, when so many local artists struggle to gain recognition overseas because of the high cost of entry into the international market ie airfares.

Yes, I can understand that the highest quality world performance can be a revelation, and strongly support opportunities to see the best in the world. However, is this Government funded cultural acceptance and support of the cultural cringe whereby we have to import musicians for a whole annual program? I can't think of any other genre that gets public money to bring in overseas artists to this extent.

Then there is also the issue of why isn't there even a support band, or ensemble, similar to the scenario found in most other musical genres. So that at least if an Australian artist isn't featured, they do have a performance opportunity and potential to be seen and grow their own audiences?

Anyway, I don't particularly want to "beat up" on an organisation, but am just curious as to why a funding body such as the Australia Council, who strongly proclaims their support of new Australian works, spends most of their funding on Companies (in the musical genre) who don't appear to be doing this. Perhaps I am missing something?

Joanne
www.ceressolutions.com.au