[Greens-Media] Government fails to provide lifeline to VCA (Vic Sue Pennicuik)

[Amanda.Sharp at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Wednesday 19 May 2010

Government fails to provide lifeline to VCA 

The state government has confirmed it would not be offering any funding 
support to the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). In the Public Accounts 
and Estimates Committee (PAEC) Budget Estimates hearings yesterday, 
Minister Batchelor stated it was the Federal government’s responsibility 
to fund the VCA.

"The statement made by Arts Minister Peter Batchelor is extremely 
disappointing," Greens Arts spokesperson, Sue Pennicuik said today. "In 
2006 when the state government introduced legislation to incorporate the 
VCA into Melbourne University, it promised the integration would ensure 
the long-term financial viability of the college and enable it to continue 
to fulfil its role as the leading Victorian provider of visual and 
performing arts courses. 

"That has proved to be a hollow promise," she said. "Since its 
incorporation into Melbourne University, the VCA has lost its name, its 
separate identity, its buildings, several courses and its secure funding 
base," she said.

In an Age article of 12 September 2009, Premier Brumby also rejected calls 
to provide a financial lifeline to the VCA. In the same article Deputy 
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said it is not a federal funding matter: she 
has batted the issue back to the university and the state government. 

"The VCA has become a political football and its unique status in training 
and developing our performing artists is being lost because neither level 
of government is prepared to provide the modest level of support needed to 
support it.  It's a disgrace," she said.

"The Premier and the Arts minister should stand up for the VCA, as was 
promised in 2006, by providing core support funding and by seriously 
lobbying for adequate ongoing funding from the federal arts portfolio, in 
keeping with federal support that is provided to other performing arts 
institutes such as NIDA and WAAPA," Ms Pennicuik said.

For further comment:  Sue Pennicuik – 0409 055 875

Background:
The University of Melbourne provides the VCAM with an essential $6 million 
cash subsidy, but then extracts another $6 million in annual rent, or over 
$6000 per student which equates to the shortfall identified in the VCAM 
review of 13 May 2010. I have asked the Minister in parliament to look 
into this issue.


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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 
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