Gross mismanagement of Government Funds

colourful sydney racing identity said :

rosscoact said :

like the avatar there

Cheers, after years of procrastinating I have finally stumped up the cash to join RA properly.

I recognised that there%u2019s never been a more important time for independent media in Australia. With shrinking media diversity on the one hand and a transformation of media delivery on the other, there are fewer and fewer outlets publishing well researched analysis and independent-minded journalism like that found on The-RiotACT, and even fewer who allow one to engage in open debate.

I realised that the-RiotACT.com is able to do much of what it does due to the generous support of its readers. By choosing to become a paid subscriber, I am help to provide an independent forum for coverage of Canberra news, events and discussion on issues that are important to US.

By subscribing to the-RiotACT.com I can:

Contribute to ideas and discussions that challenge convention and make our community a better place;
Demonstrate my intellectual or comedic prowess to other contributors;
Build my social profile and reputation;
Make the news rather than just consuming it; And,
Be sexier than the person sitting next to me and the envy of my friends.
…

Plus you can win more stuff. (I obviously have the ‘wrong priorities’. There’s a lot of that about.)

But most valuably, you have a few minutes to correct errors of judgement or spelling. It’s worth the money to seem immaculate. Imaacullate, I tells you!

rosscoact said :

like the avatar there

Cheers, after years of procrastinating I have finally stumped up the cash to join RA properly.

I recognised that there’s never been a more important time for independent media in Australia. With shrinking media diversity on the one hand and a transformation of media delivery on the other, there are fewer and fewer outlets publishing well researched analysis and independent-minded journalism like that found on The-RiotACT, and even fewer who allow one to engage in open debate.

I realised that the-RiotACT.com is able to do much of what it does due to the generous support of its readers. By choosing to become a paid subscriber, I am help to provide an independent forum for coverage of Canberra news, events and discussion on issues that are important to US.

By subscribing to the-RiotACT.com I can:

Contribute to ideas and discussions that challenge convention and make our community a better place;
Demonstrate my intellectual or comedic prowess to other contributors;
Build my social profile and reputation;
Make the news rather than just consuming it; And,
Be sexier than the person sitting next to me and the envy of my friends.

I would encourage you all to do like wise

(JB – do I get my second month free for this?)

HenryBG said :

cpp said :

I love art and I vote!

You’re also free to open your wallet when and where you choose. Get your hands off mine.

It is a fact that convincing more people to play sport has positive health outcomes, on balance.

It is inconceivable that a $750,000 pile of rusty bent girders is having any positive effect on anything. But I respect your freedom to buy such a thing, should you choose to buy it.

Well I don’t care about the health benefits of sport HenryBG, so maybe I should make you spend your own cash on sporting facilities so you can stop being a whiny, bitch-made hypocrite. Nevermind the many people who can’t play sport due to illness or disability, I suppose? It’s tough-titties to them, according to you, yeah?

brynarose said :

Just out of interest, does anyone know if there is any curatorial process in deciding which artworks are purchased by the ACT government? As in, who is deciding which works to buy? I’m all for public art, however I feel if there is going to be upwards of $750.000 spent on these artworks I would hope that the artworks are carefully considered for purposes of aesthetics and value by people actually involved and knowledgeable in the arts and not just bureaucrats.

I should probably research this more, but if anyone could point me in the right direction to finding out this information I’d really appreciate it.

I think you’ll find the vast majority of public servants in the A.C.T hold one kind of arts degree or another, it’s almost a pre-requisite.

HenryBG, Art is an essential service, it broadens the mind, it is educational, that’s why they teach it in school.

You could perhaps try a little art yourself?

colourful sydney racing identity said :

Girt_Hindrance said :

. After all, what did it cost us under the Liberals to returf and then paint green an entire football oval?

Does painting an oval green count as public art?

like the avatar there

Hyperbole FTW!

rosscoact said :

Weatherman said :

The irony is that with these large amounts of money, it would be possible to build a large aesthetically pleasing castle or a public hedge maze that would be a tourist attraction and at least bring money into Canberra to cover the costs at the same time. I’m sure people flock from miles away to see our pride and joy, a stack of bent steel girders. I am an arts fan myself and even I find that some of Canberra’s public artworks are pretentious.

I’m now without speech. Yep, “a large aesthetically pleasing castle or a public hedge maze” that’s what we need to put us right up there in the tourist circuit

Come on, who doesn’t want an 11th century Norman castle and keep sitting on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin?

Would attract as many people as Floriade does.
Castle, hedge maze – many communities elsewhere in the world do this to their benefit.
A great idea.
Anybody been to Bath in Somerset? The adventure playground near the centre of town there is so good people regularly drive from many miles away to spend the day there. And not just old wrinklies on a daily budget of $7.50 like Floriade attracts, either – whole families turn up there with their wallets.

Tymefor said :

HenryBG said :

cpp said :

I love art and I vote!

You’re also free to open your wallet when and where you choose. Get your hands off mine.

Its not your wallet or mine. Its OUR wallet. I don’t have kids that use our education system, am healthy and don’t use any healthcare. I don’t own or drive a car. Nor do I play or use public sporting facilities. I have paid stamp duty on 2 properties and rates on both for 7 years. 10 years ago i even had to pay for my apprentice off the job training out of my own pocket because i couldn’t get my ACT user choice funding to go to the trainer I wanted. All that said I don’t mind our money being spent on things you find important and obviously use regularly. Just offer me the same respect for things that I find important and perceive real benefit from!!

Education is a vital service. Health is a vital service. Roads, policing, waste collection are all vital services.
Taxes are collected to provide these vital services.

The f%#$wits who run the ACT government are not content with providing vital services, they want to govern as an end in and of itself and part of their strategy is to swell government sa much as possible. They swell government by making non-accountable employment decisions (employing an army of consultants and contractors to do the work of permanent staff who are kept on the books despite not doing their jobs) and they create endless “directorates” “portfolios” and other initiatives and taskforces and committees to attend to completely non-essential and non-beneficial services we neither want nor need.
The vast amount of money spent on staff and objects to display as “public art” is a completely unconscionable waste of public money.
The money spent on “Human Rights Commissioner” isn’t just a waste of our money, but has also had the direct result of creating this country’s most expensive and least safe prison, leading to endlessly escalating costs to this community.

Sick to the back teeth of our town council trying to strut their silly ideas and ideologies on various stages where they do not belong, at our expense.

Girt_Hindrance said :

. After all, what did it cost us under the Liberals to returf and then paint green an entire football oval?

Does painting an oval green count as public art?

NoImRight said :

poetix said :

rosscoact said :

Weatherman said :

The irony is that with these large amounts of money, it would be possible to build a large aesthetically pleasing castle or a public hedge maze that would be a tourist attraction and at least bring money into Canberra to cover the costs at the same time. I’m sure people flock from miles away to see our pride and joy, a stack of bent steel girders. I am an arts fan myself and even I find that some of Canberra’s public artworks are pretentious.

I’m now without speech. Yep, “a large aesthetically pleasing castle or a public hedge maze” that’s what we need to put us right up there in the tourist circuit

Come on, who doesn’t want an 11th century Norman castle and keep sitting on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin?

We could all go serfing…

Pun of the week.

You making waves yet again? 🙂

HenryBG said :

cpp said :

I love art and I vote!

You’re also free to open your wallet when and where you choose. Get your hands off mine.

Its not your wallet or mine. Its OUR wallet. I don’t have kids that use our education system, am healthy and don’t use any healthcare. I don’t own or drive a car. Nor do I play or use public sporting facilities. I have paid stamp duty on 2 properties and rates on both for 7 years. 10 years ago i even had to pay for my apprentice off the job training out of my own pocket because i couldn’t get my ACT user choice funding to go to the trainer I wanted. All that said I don’t mind our money being spent on things you find important and obviously use regularly. Just offer me the same respect for things that I find important and perceive real benefit from!!

I rather don’t mind the Art, the beams on GDE/Barton, ‘tears of the taxpayer’ in Woden, ‘Finding Nemo’ on Drakeford drive. Can’t say I understand the rocks stacked on raised platforms beside the GDE near the AIS, or the Owl erection on Belconnen way, but I’m happy that the cost of them is paid and they’re permane

rosscoact said :

cpp said :

As a voting resident of Canberra I find the political attack on the Arts so deeply offensive. If spending money on the Arts is not a priority then sport shouldn%u2019t be either. I understand that not everybody enjoys art but the same can be said for sport. However, I believe both are so vital to maintaining a balanced, healthy and vibrant society and would hate to see money taken from either, in fact, they both could use more money. The Arts enrich our lives not only with public sculptures but through music, dance, theatre and many festivals, attack the sculptures and you risk taking away all other areas of the Arts that are already under a lot of pressure and resourced.

I love my children%u2019s responses to all of the public art throughout this city, it is really quite remarkable and surprising how they view, interpret and emotionally respond to these, highlighting the importance of art in our society. A child%u2019s experience is a window into how we can all try to see the world around us. I have not witnessed a negative response to the works by a child only inquisitiveness.

I also love that visitors to our city can meander or tour throughout our whole city and stumble upon amazing artworks. This pulls them out of the major institutions and opens up our beautiful city, to not only see art, but to experience Canberra in a way that breaks through the perception that Canberra is a boring, ugly and unfriendly place. There are some works made by Canberra artists but why can’t we enjoy works from artists around the world?

I love art and I vote!

This.

The OP finally made me realise that no matter how bad the other mob are, local Liberals are going to be worse. It is obvious that you don’t understand that your idea of art may not be another person’s and your default position is to hate what you don’t understand.

Agreed. Personally I’m happy to have something tangible and permanent to enjoy on an ongoing basis. After all, what did it cost us under the Liberals to returf and then paint green an entire football oval?

I’d like to know how much of the total cost quoted for each piece of art is for the art, and how much is for the overhead of putting any sizable art piece anywhere. I wouldn’t mind betting the latter chews up a good chunk of the total costs. When a Government organisation needs to do anything new, there’s a whole bunch of planning, consulting, paperwork, budgets, oh&s, environmental assessments, etc., etc. Space Industry (obviously I’m not making a direct comparison) has the same issue where a single bolt can cost $400 when all the overhead of managing that bolt is taken into account.

I love a lot of our public art and I just get the feeling everyone thinks those hefty prices quoted are the final bid on eBay or something.

poetix said :

rosscoact said :

Weatherman said :

The irony is that with these large amounts of money, it would be possible to build a large aesthetically pleasing castle or a public hedge maze that would be a tourist attraction and at least bring money into Canberra to cover the costs at the same time. I’m sure people flock from miles away to see our pride and joy, a stack of bent steel girders. I am an arts fan myself and even I find that some of Canberra’s public artworks are pretentious.

I’m now without speech. Yep, “a large aesthetically pleasing castle or a public hedge maze” that’s what we need to put us right up there in the tourist circuit

Come on, who doesn’t want an 11th century Norman castle and keep sitting on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin?

We could all go serfing…

Pun of the week.

miz said :

This – ‘ . . . am always surprised that art like this can be bought on the government purse, but hospitals fund raise for neonatal intensive care beds’ sums up my view.

The problem with that argument is that health is a never ending squeeze on the public purse – it can never be fully funded. So you can, and always will, be able to make that argument about almost every dollar not spent on health.

#47

As a guitarist you would surely appreciate that Dimebag Darrell made Blue Poles look like child’s play!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDnHddcZ5tQ&feature=related

This – ‘ . . . am always surprised that art like this can be bought on the government purse, but hospitals fund raise for neonatal intensive care beds’ sums up my view.

And to all the people who think we need more ‘vibrancy’: Brunswick is vibrant and look how many don’t feel safe. Vibrant schmibrant. I just want a city with adequate functioning services, and am willing to ‘sacrifice’ public art money until that happens.

rosscoact said :

Weatherman said :

The irony is that with these large amounts of money, it would be possible to build a large aesthetically pleasing castle or a public hedge maze that would be a tourist attraction and at least bring money into Canberra to cover the costs at the same time. I’m sure people flock from miles away to see our pride and joy, a stack of bent steel girders. I am an arts fan myself and even I find that some of Canberra’s public artworks are pretentious.

I’m now without speech. Yep, “a large aesthetically pleasing castle or a public hedge maze” that’s what we need to put us right up there in the tourist circuit

Come on, who doesn’t want an 11th century Norman castle and keep sitting on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin?

We could all go serfing…

Weatherman said :

The irony is that with these large amounts of money, it would be possible to build a large aesthetically pleasing castle or a public hedge maze that would be a tourist attraction and at least bring money into Canberra to cover the costs at the same time. I’m sure people flock from miles away to see our pride and joy, a stack of bent steel girders. I am an arts fan myself and even I find that some of Canberra’s public artworks are pretentious.

I’m now without speech. Yep, “a large aesthetically pleasing castle or a public hedge maze” that’s what we need to put us right up there in the tourist circuit

How much was the big belco penis? That thing realy is crook

The irony is that with these large amounts of money, it would be possible to build a large aesthetically pleasing castle or a public hedge maze that would be a tourist attraction and at least bring money into Canberra to cover the costs at the same time. I’m sure people flock from miles away to see our pride and joy, a stack of bent steel girders. I am an arts fan myself and even I find that some of Canberra’s public artworks are pretentious.

I was going to write a lengthy post about how all the arts (but especially poetry) are good for mental health, in the broadest sense, but that would involve me putting down my vodka. So I won’t.

Bcs said :

This is another disgusting attack on the arts by the ACT Liberals who have no cultural foresight. People didn’t “get” Blue Poles when it was purchased by the NGA in 1973, however it has become a loved icon of Australia’s cultural development. Of course you still don’t have to like it, just as not everyone has to love every piece of public art, but what a boring city this would be if all our public art was just bronze statues of Mal Meninga!

Vibrant cultures need a healthy arts/creative sector, just look anywhere in the world for examples. Get a bit of cultural foresight Liberals, and stop attacking the arts as indulgent or wasteful. Arts are crucial to culture.

Labor voter (usually, but not this time). Think the art purchased by the ACT Govt has been a complete overkill. Does that make my opinion any less valid? Its not only the other mob who think it rubbish.
Wake up!!

Kayem said :

HenryBG said :

Bcs said :

People didn’t “get” Blue Poles when it was purchased by the NGA in 1973, however it has become a loved icon of Australia’s cultural development.

People didn’t “get” the Emperor’s New Clothes, either.

Calling Pollock’s absurdly talentless daub a “loved icon” is going way too far – it’s a monumental piece of 1970’s tat, nothing more, and the arty-farty types are still in denial about their complete lack of taste and discernment over it.

“Blue Poles” was painted in 1952. It is generally considered to be one of Pollock’s most important works

I’m a guitarist, and I consider Blue Poles to be the visual equivalent of a Pantera song.

That is not a compliment.

cpp said :

As a voting resident of Canberra I find the political attack on the Arts so deeply offensive. If spending money on the Arts is not a priority then sport shouldn%u2019t be either. I understand that not everybody enjoys art but the same can be said for sport. However, I believe both are so vital to maintaining a balanced, healthy and vibrant society and would hate to see money taken from either, in fact, they both could use more money. The Arts enrich our lives not only with public sculptures but through music, dance, theatre and many festivals, attack the sculptures and you risk taking away all other areas of the Arts that are already under a lot of pressure and resourced.

I love my children%u2019s responses to all of the public art throughout this city, it is really quite remarkable and surprising how they view, interpret and emotionally respond to these, highlighting the importance of art in our society. A child%u2019s experience is a window into how we can all try to see the world around us. I have not witnessed a negative response to the works by a child only inquisitiveness.

I also love that visitors to our city can meander or tour throughout our whole city and stumble upon amazing artworks. This pulls them out of the major institutions and opens up our beautiful city, to not only see art, but to experience Canberra in a way that breaks through the perception that Canberra is a boring, ugly and unfriendly place. There are some works made by Canberra artists but why can’t we enjoy works from artists around the world?

I love art and I vote!

This.

The OP finally made me realise that no matter how bad the other mob are, local Liberals are going to be worse. It is obvious that you don’t understand that your idea of art may not be another person’s and your default position is to hate what you don’t understand.

As childish as these signs are they come close to making a good point in the case of the Cooleman court artwork. The artworks itself is made of pieces of broken car lights and is meant to be a comment on pedestrian safety and the preferential treatment of cars, particularly around cooleman court where the paths in many areas area lacking.

Now it seems a bit ironic that the government would spend money on an artwork about pedestrian safety in an area where it needs to be improved rather than actually spending money on improving pedestrian facilities. So the questioning their “priorities” is reasonable.

However that being said I still believe artwork is important but in addition, rather than instead this artwork the government should spend money on improving the paths around cooleman court. Then the artwork would really be a monument to the government improving the community. As it stands now it is monument to their oversight and ignorance of local issues.

Good art provokes discussion so I guess it’s working, I like the giant grass steel thing on Gde Barton highway, not sure if it’s the best way to spend gov cash but I still like it.

Also I was lead to believe that major works like the Gde have stipulations in he construction that allows for art and other work like platings, could well be wrong.

I don’t really like the owl, but I don’t think it matters that I don’t like it. I’m sure others love it

Wouldn’t mind betting you couldn’t arrange a real helicopter crash for less than $750,000.

I actually don’t mind the metal thing next to the overpass. Much better than the funeral pyres of the rocks further down the road.

And if you cancelled public art for more useful things you’d end up with consultants and feasibility reports.

cpp said :

HenryBG said :

cpp said :

I love art and I vote!

You’re also free to open your wallet when and where you choose. Get your hands off mine.

It is a fact that convincing more people to play sport has positive health outcomes, on balance.

It is inconceivable that a $750,000 pile of rusty bent girders is having any positive effect on anything. But I respect your freedom to buy such a thing, should you choose to buy it.

I do purchase art for myself but think it is great that we get to enjoy it in our public spaces. I have not suggested that money should be taken from sports…

I do.

I’d even vote for the libs if they’d undertake to dump funding for professional sport – even if they wanted to spend it on more penisowls.

Does anyone have any info on the amount of dollars spent on public art over the last say 4 years as a percentage of Gov budget/GDP/whatever you want to call it?

Masquara said :

schmeah said :

Oh well what do we have here, another poster who establishes an account for the sole purpose of election time ranting …

There’s requirement that Canberrans serve a period on Riotact before they contribute to the election debate?

There’s no requirement, and if you had have read the remainder of my comment (instead of just selectively quoting one sentence) you would have noticed I actually encourage spiritied political debate and enjoy reading it .. but when accounts which are obviously run by dead beat hacks come out and have a cry about x and z during the immediate election period I and everyone else with half a brain will call it for what is is: taking the piss.

It is quite obvious that even though you participate in online community forums you are somewhat out of touch with what happens within Canberra.

Art is used as therapy for example, within aged care facilities, it is a used with people suffering from chronic diseases such as Parkinson disease, art is used in early childhood development and this is because there is extensive research that supports art as a vital practice in developing cognitive and fine motor skills as well as allowing people to express themselves and build self esteem.

Art can be used for healing, rehabilitation and connect people to their cultures (Indigenous art for example). The Hands On studio is an ACT program for people with intellectual and/or physical disabilities. Bimberi art therapy program is for young Indigenous people. This is not hippy greenie BS as you so ignorantly put it, it is effective therapeutic practice.

Art is not only therapy, it is a legitimate occupation. Art is everywhere, it is all over the world, Art can influence what we see on the internet, TV, books and magazines. Art has had key roles in social and political movements but it doesn’t really matter what I say here as you will continue to dismiss it as BS because you do not understand art, it is not your thing….and that is ok.

brynarose said :

Just out of interest, does anyone know if there is any curatorial process in deciding which artworks are purchased by the ACT government? As in, who is deciding which works to buy? I’m all for public art, however I feel if there is going to be upwards of $750.000 spent on these artworks I would hope that the artworks are carefully considered for purposes of aesthetics and value by people actually involved and knowledgeable in the arts and not just bureaucrats.

I should probably research this more, but if anyone could point me in the right direction to finding out this information I’d really appreciate it.

i think you’d do well to contact artsACT who act as the administrative support to the minister responsible for the arts in canberra, who would be the bod making the decision (there is, or used to be, a board to advise the minister, comprising a range of senior representatives of the canberra arts community, for whom artsACT played/s a secretariat function).

i, too, am sick of the ‘oh look, art i don’t like cost money, let’s spend it on puppies with cancer ’cause that’s cuter’ brigade. i’m sure there is a swag of public money spent on health care provide to people who take little interest in their welfare then becoem a burden on the [taxpayer-funded] system, or on mully-wannabees for their education, or…

a vibrant community – the sort in which i want to live – allocates money to public art, which is stimulating and contributes to the overall health and wellbeing of society – and as a bonus makes the place an attractive tourist destination (should we not fund the flowers and the silly hotrod cars?). just crawl back into your barren philistine’s hole and lie down with a bex and strong cup of tea, will you?

cpp said :

Art also has significant health benefits particularly to people who live on the fringes of society, minority groups, people with physical or mental health issues this is why I believe both sports and art is vital to enriching our society.

Alright, I’ll bite. How does art have health benefits to people who live on the fringes of society, minority groups, etc.

Hippie greenie BS if you ask me.

HenryBG said :

cpp said :

I love art and I vote!

You’re also free to open your wallet when and where you choose. Get your hands off mine.

It is a fact that convincing more people to play sport has positive health outcomes, on balance.

It is inconceivable that a $750,000 pile of rusty bent girders is having any positive effect on anything. But I respect your freedom to buy such a thing, should you choose to buy it.

I do purchase art for myself but think it is great that we get to enjoy it in our public spaces. I have not suggested that money should be taken from sports, I actually said more funding should go to both. I love sports and know quite well its health benefits. Art also has significant health benefits particularly to people who live on the fringes of society, minority groups, people with physical or mental health issues this is why I believe both sports and art is vital to enriching our society.

I don’t really like the Gungahlin Drive artworks, nor the penis owl, but I do support arts funding for the ACT, it just needs to be better spent.
I’m not sure the figures on the signs are correct, but I do think we could have got a lot more value for our money.

We’ve got a significant amount of funding for the arts to support the Centenary of Canberra, and I’d like to see more of the small scale investments in local artists continue in order to retain the “cultural capital” that is produced from our institutions like the School of Art, but often flees Canberra as soon as their degrees are complete.

Glen Takkenberg
Pirate Party ACT for Ginninderra

HenryBG said :

p996911turbo said :

” One $750k sculpture will not bring the budget back into surplus.

No, but it would pay for a dozen part-time community nurses. I know what would bring greater benefits to the community, do you?[\quote]

That’s still not really the point. You can point to almost any expenditure and find something it could have been better spent on. Wouldn’t it be better to have spent money on Canberra Hospital rather than on duplicating the Monaro Highway past Fyshwick? Well, yes, it would have, but it misses the point.

Our money is collected by the government so they can spend it on things. They need to spend money on a lot of different things. Roads, health, sanitation, community sport, maintaining nature strips, you name it. I don’t think it’s reasonable to say that putting public art in that list is a “gross mismanagement of Government funds”.

HenryBG said :

(Now, if they’d spent that $750,000 on a Canberra artists, thus helping to develop the local art community, I would be a bit more understanding.)

Fair point, that would be a very noble cause and worth spending on.

HenryBG said :

Public art should be funded by philanthropy, not by the general public.

And our opinion differs but I respect your opinion.

cpp said :

I love art and I vote!

Me too.

HenryBG said :

Bcs said :

People didn’t “get” Blue Poles when it was purchased by the NGA in 1973, however it has become a loved icon of Australia’s cultural development.

People didn’t “get” the Emperor’s New Clothes, either.

Calling Pollock’s absurdly talentless daub a “loved icon” is going way too far – it’s a monumental piece of 1970’s tat, nothing more, and the arty-farty types are still in denial about their complete lack of taste and discernment over it.

“Blue Poles” was painted in 1952. It is generally considered to be one of Pollock’s most important works

Your sign was last seen blowing across the GDE causing a massive traffic hazard. You better learn to manage a garden stake before your comment on government funds.

I honestly hope you get fined for endangering human life.

cpp said :

I love art and I vote!

You’re also free to open your wallet when and where you choose. Get your hands off mine.

It is a fact that convincing more people to play sport has positive health outcomes, on balance.

It is inconceivable that a $750,000 pile of rusty bent girders is having any positive effect on anything. But I respect your freedom to buy such a thing, should you choose to buy it.

cpp said :

As a voting resident of Canberra I find the political attack on the Arts so deeply offensive. If spending money on the Arts is not a priority then sport shouldn’t be either. I understand that not everybody enjoys art but the same can be said for sport. However, I believe both are so vital to maintaining a balanced, healthy and vibrant society and would hate to see money taken from either, in fact, they both could use more money. The Arts enrich our lives not only with public sculptures but through music, dance, theatre and many festivals, attack the sculptures and you risk taking away all other areas of the Arts that are already under a lot of pressure and resourced.

Except that sport has direct links to fitness, improved health, and preventing obesity and the associated illnesses. Art does not.

The Arts enrich our lives not only with public sculptures but through music, dance, theatre and many festivals, attack the sculptures and you risk taking away all other areas of the Arts that are already under a lot of pressure and resourced.

Just to clarify, I meant to say under resourced.

As a voting resident of Canberra I find the political attack on the Arts so deeply offensive. If spending money on the Arts is not a priority then sport shouldn’t be either. I understand that not everybody enjoys art but the same can be said for sport. However, I believe both are so vital to maintaining a balanced, healthy and vibrant society and would hate to see money taken from either, in fact, they both could use more money. The Arts enrich our lives not only with public sculptures but through music, dance, theatre and many festivals, attack the sculptures and you risk taking away all other areas of the Arts that are already under a lot of pressure and resourced.

I love my children’s responses to all of the public art throughout this city, it is really quite remarkable and surprising how they view, interpret and emotionally respond to these, highlighting the importance of art in our society. A child’s experience is a window into how we can all try to see the world around us. I have not witnessed a negative response to the works by a child only inquisitiveness.

I also love that visitors to our city can meander or tour throughout our whole city and stumble upon amazing artworks. This pulls them out of the major institutions and opens up our beautiful city, to not only see art, but to experience Canberra in a way that breaks through the perception that Canberra is a boring, ugly and unfriendly place. There are some works made by Canberra artists but why can’t we enjoy works from artists around the world?

I love art and I vote!

Masquara said :

schmeah said :

Oh well what do we have here, another poster who establishes an account for the sole purpose of election time ranting …

There’s requirement that Canberrans serve a period on Riotact before they contribute to the election debate?

Define your use of the word “contribute”?

Masquara said :

schmeah said :

Oh well what do we have here, another poster who establishes an account for the sole purpose of election time ranting …

There’s requirement that Canberrans serve a period on Riotact before they contribute to the election debate?

Great idea, I second Masquara’s proposal.

Sorry, no political affiliation here either – but I am an artist who is sick of the arts getting trivialised and cheapened by the Libs.

p996911turbo said :

” One $750k sculpture will not bring the budget back into surplus.

No, but it would pay for a dozen part-time community nurses. I know what would bring greater benefits to the community, do you?

(Now, if they’d spent that $750,000 on a Canberra artists, thus helping to develop the local art community, I would be a bit more understanding.)

Public art should be funded by philanthropy, not by the general public.

And it would seem that the first two posters on this thread are also political blow-ins.

Piss off, I’ve been on here for years. I just don’t post much. And there’s no way I’m associated with any of the pathetic excuses for politicians we have in this territory.

I just happen to like nice things.

Bcs said :

People didn’t “get” Blue Poles when it was purchased by the NGA in 1973, however it has become a loved icon of Australia’s cultural development.

People didn’t “get” the Emperor’s New Clothes, either.

Calling Pollock’s absurdly talentless daub a “loved icon” is going way too far – it’s a monumental piece of 1970’s tat, nothing more, and the arty-farty types are still in denial about their complete lack of taste and discernment over it.

You need to invest more money in your signs, they had mostly blown over/flailing in the wind when I drove past this morning.

I do agree its a waste of money for what it is, although ironic that they had the foresight to place a heap of scrap metal beside the bridge which would ultimately collapse during construction. If they lose the election, I think the artwork should be renamed in memorial of the government.

Can anyone actually confirm the exact cost of that “piece of art” on Gungahlin Drive? I’m sorry but I don’t really take messages spray painted on black banners as gospel without any facts to back it up. If I put up a sign that looks like it was put together by a child saying that the Greens are really colourblind commies who sleep with a picture of Karl Marx under their pillow, is everyone going to believe it without any further explanation?

> Imagine you had $750,000…

Subsidise ACTION buses for 3 days.

schmeah said :

Oh well what do we have here, another poster who establishes an account for the sole purpose of election time ranting …

There’s requirement that Canberrans serve a period on Riotact before they contribute to the election debate?

Jeez, come election time this place picks up more astroturf than Lewis Hamilton.

p996911turbo said :

This topic seems to come up all the time on RiotACT.

You know what? If I had as much money as the ACT Government, I probably would spend rather a lot on art.

I don’t think they’re getting good value ($750k should probably buy more than one artwork) but I don’t think it’s such a bad idea.

I also rather like the sculpture you’re referring to.

Bcs said :

This is another disgusting attack on the arts by the ACT Liberals who have no cultural foresight. People didn’t “get” Blue Poles when it was purchased by the NGA in 1973, however it has become a loved icon of Australia’s cultural development. Of course you still don’t have to like it, just as not everyone has to love every piece of public art, but what a boring city this would be if all our public art was just bronze statues of Mal Meninga!

Vibrant cultures need a healthy arts/creative sector, just look anywhere in the world for examples. Get a bit of cultural foresight Liberals, and stop attacking the arts as indulgent or wasteful. Arts are crucial to culture.

You do your party no credit when you join RA to attack your opponents. PLease go away and get back to being ignored at shopping centres.

thanks

Party hacks astroturfing one of the more intelligent (generally) and vibrant on line communities in the most educated city in the country doesn’t show much respect for their audience.

A pox on all of them.

*yawn* obvious newbie Liberal Hack, is obvious.

jess_87 said :

I also don’t really understand this comment. “As much money as the ACT Government”… the ACT Government is in deficit! Maybe this would be justifiable if there was a surplus and the Government was supporting local artists.

My point was that in the total amount of money spent by the ACT Government, the amount spent on art is not disproportionate or unreasonable.

Whether the government is running in surplus or deficit is a more complex issue than “They’re spending everything on art! Oh noes!” One $750k sculpture will not bring the budget back into surplus.

To suggest that all public artworks should go unfunded because the budget is in deficit is just foolish.

If you, or your group are responsible for these signs, I really don’t know what you are trying to achieve. I saw the one at Yarra Glen this morning. Amateurish, already half fallen down and a blatant risk to road safety. I think should be removed for public safety reasons.
I like the public art. I accept that there is reason for debate, but there is a right way to do this. Ugly black plastic, blowing in the breeze would seem unlikely to contribute to the bigger issue.

Can we have the election now, just to stop the various astroturfing party hacks from regurgitating the constant bile of “look at them, they are rubbish”?

And to quote from one of my favourite authors:

‘Multiple exclamation marks,’ he went on, shaking his head, ‘are a sure sign of a diseased mind.’ — Eric

‘And all those exclamation marks, you notice? Five? A sure sign of someone who wears his underpants on his head.’ — Maskerade

Wrongpriorities2012 uses four.
jess_87 uses six and four.
I suggest both of you seek professional help; I believe Mr Pocock may have an appointment or two available 🙂

Just out of interest, does anyone know if there is any curatorial process in deciding which artworks are purchased by the ACT government? As in, who is deciding which works to buy? I’m all for public art, however I feel if there is going to be upwards of $750.000 spent on these artworks I would hope that the artworks are carefully considered for purposes of aesthetics and value by people actually involved and knowledgeable in the arts and not just bureaucrats.

I should probably research this more, but if anyone could point me in the right direction to finding out this information I’d really appreciate it.

Oh well what do we have here, another poster who establishes an account for the sole purpose of election time ranting …

I don’t mind where people have an established account and occasionally post about election policies, events or raise legitimate issues with the ACT Government policies/administration or Liberal happenings but this is just getting ridiculous.

I’m with others who have suggested the Libs should pay the Riot Act advertising monies, instead of just using the forum to have a fat cry about every piece of election junk mail that lands in their mail box ..

Snore x a zillion

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Are you the person that put the black plastic with crudely painted writing next to the sculpture at the top of Coleman court?
Not doing your party and favours.

Matches the description of the signs on the GDE this morning.

p996911turbo said :

You know what? If I had as much money as the ACT Government, I probably would spend rather a lot on art.

I also don’t really understand this comment. “As much money as the ACT Government”… the ACT Government is in deficit! Maybe this would be justifiable if there was a surplus and the Government was supporting local artists.

$750,000 for a stack of metal poles sticking out in odd directions?!!!? You have to be joking!!!!!! That is more than the average Canberra house!!!!

Are you the person that put the black plastic with crudely painted writing next to the sculpture at the top of Coleman court?
Not doing your party and favours.

“The government should be treating our money as their own”

Erm, no. Am sure I know what you mean, that funds could be allocated to other government priorities, but that sentence you’ve used means something altogether different, and depending on the individual, could see the city adorned with a bit more art than you seem to expect.

Saw the signs on Gungahlin Drive today (sorry, no photo) and do you know what my first thought was?

Gee – I wonder which party is responsible for that piece of advertising during an election campaign. Wasn’t prepared to go back and look for fine print, name and address on the bottom.

Me personally, I don’t mind a bit of art here and there. The Sheep, the running dogs, the (regularly vandalized) little fat men reading on the stairs in civic for example.

But at the same time I am always surprised that art like this can be bought on the government purse, but hospitals fund raise for neonatal intensive care beds. Yes yes, doing X with the hospital funding budget and knowing you can do Y with fundraising and public appeals is all very logical… but why does the need exist in the first place?

Bcs said :

…but what a boring city this would be if all our public art was just bronze statues of Mal Meninga!

I certainly agree with that.

But I have to wonder at the value attached to “culture” and “cultural foresight”, apparently with disregard to cost, when you don’t have to look far to find someone in need in the ACT.

This is another disgusting attack on the arts by the ACT Liberals who have no cultural foresight. People didn’t “get” Blue Poles when it was purchased by the NGA in 1973, however it has become a loved icon of Australia’s cultural development. Of course you still don’t have to like it, just as not everyone has to love every piece of public art, but what a boring city this would be if all our public art was just bronze statues of Mal Meninga!

Vibrant cultures need a healthy arts/creative sector, just look anywhere in the world for examples. Get a bit of cultural foresight Liberals, and stop attacking the arts as indulgent or wasteful. Arts are crucial to culture.

This topic seems to come up all the time on RiotACT.

You know what? If I had as much money as the ACT Government, I probably would spend rather a lot on art.

I don’t think they’re getting good value ($750k should probably buy more than one artwork) but I don’t think it’s such a bad idea.

I also rather like the sculpture you’re referring to.