By Tracee Hutchison*
SOME of the peninsula’s highest profile artists, actors, musicians, film-makers, writers, creative producers and festival directors have joined forces urging Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors to rethink their recent decision to slash arts and culture funding in the upcoming budget.
Over a hundred local creatives gathered at the Pig & Whistle’s Shed Theatre in response to proposed cuts to the arts and culture allocation in council’s Community Investment Fund in the FY25/26 budget, including Performing Arts Development grants and Creative Fund grants, to zero.
Among those calling on council to reverse the decision is peninsula-based art writer and co-director of Everywhen Art Susan McCulloch OAM: “The council’s sudden cutting of its arts grants and related funding is a completely retrograde step. Over the last five years, it has been demonstrably obvious that the increase in funding to the arts has enabled the creation of elevating, imaginative and broad ranging arts events peninsula-wide,” McCulloch said.
McCulloch believes the council should be celebrating the way the arts has attracted tourists, supported local businesses and helped put the Mornington Peninsula on the cultural tourism map. “The arts bring people together in positive ways unlike anything else. Cutting this funding would directly impact the peninsula’s arts practitioners, numerous businesses and residents and set our standing in the broader community back decades,” McCulloch said.
Key among the concerns was the lack of consultation and a sense of being blindsided by a decision that lacked transparency, explanation or understanding of the significant role the council had played in nurturing the local creative community.
President of MP Music Network, Alan Long, said council should be trumpeting their success, not cutting what they’ve helped create: “What’s particularly frustrating is that this decision seems to have been made without meaningful consultation with our community,” Long said. Long said shire funding had nurtured creativity, brought community together and supported a creative vibrancy on the peninsula.
“These grants have been a lifeline for so many local artists, musicians, events, and organisations over the years. The MP Music Network board feel that the decision is both short-sighted and harmful. We’ve always believed that a healthy arts scene – particularly our music community – is a vital part of the Mornington Peninsula’s identity and plays a significant role in our local economy,” Long said. The economic, cultural and tourism benefits featured strongly in the community’s response.
Flinders Fringe executive producer Claire Thorn announced the festival had engaged pro-bono expert advice to do a cost-benefit economic analysis of return on investment in the arts locally: “As a volunteer run, not for profit organisation we channel funds directly into the pockets of our local artists, businesses and district. The investment of the Performing Arts Development Grants and Creative Grants has contributed to the creation of acclaimed, tour ready new work plus several outdoor exhibitions and workshops. The valuable funds from ratepayers go back into the community with much added value,” Thorn said.
Artistic director of Dreamhouse Theatre Company, Carole Patullo, outlined the huge benefit she sees through the youth theatre she leads: “So many families speak to me of the profound and transformative effect that involvement in the performing arts has had on their lives; whether that is through the like-minded community and connection they find, the safe space offered to explore their unique creative voice, or as an audience,” Patullo said. Patullo warned the cuts will have lasting effect. “The recent retrograde decision taken by council will directly impact the small but vital Dreamhouse Theatre Company’s capacity to deliver programs”.
The sentiment was summed up by founder and director of the long-running Peninsula Film Festival, and internationally renowned actor, Steve Bastoni, “The Arts community on the peninsula is strong and united and committed to fighting back against these cuts. If council think they can slash funding to the arts, without community consultation, they are in for a shock. We will not go quietly into the night, we will bring the ruckus,” Bastoni said.
The gathering was one of many across the peninsula responding to broader council cuts that extend to heritage programs, First Nations funding and rescinding the Climate Emergency Declaration and Climate Response Plan.
*Tracee Hutchison is a local broadcaster, film-maker, writer and creative producer.
