Joy Burch has announced Labors plans for arts with an effort to kill poetry slams by bringing them within the dead embrace of government:

if re-elected ACT Labor will provide $5.83 million over four years to deliver nation-leading arts facilities for the future, protect and celebrate our finest cultural assets and better engage our young people in the arts.

ACT Labor will:

– Deliver $4 million over four years to develop the Kingston arts precinct and Ainslie Arts Centre

– Invest $1 million over two years to upgrade to the Gorman House Arts Centre

– Provide $750,000 for a feasibility, site selection and design study into building a new theatre

– Make poetry more accessible to young Canberrans with $10,000 Poetry Slam competitions in the north and south

– Bring back the Fringe Festival to Canberra’s CBD from next year

[Picture courtesy of Joy Burch's office]