As Australia’s two biggest arts agencies shirk responsibility for “Black Friday”, arts leaders offer words of guidance.

In the wake of last Friday’s news that 62 Australian arts organisations would no longer receive vital multi-year operational funding from the Australia Council, the arts sector has been left looking for decisive leadership to guide the creative industries through what has been described as the worst arts cuts in 40 years. The scale of the funding crisis has been linked to the drastic changes in the arts funding infrastructure, instituted by former Minister for the Arts George Brandis in the 2015/16 Federal budget, which saw $105 million diverted from the Australia Council to supply the Government administered Catalyst Fund (formerly the NPEA). 

However, instead of providing a positive voice advocating for arts organisations facing closure, the Ministry for the Arts issued a statement late on Friday blaming the Australia Council for the disaster, dismissing the overwhelming outcry from artists and arts consumers across the country, who have called for funding to the Australia Council to be restored.

The press release, issued by current Arts Minister, Senator Mitch Fifield’s office, said: “The Australia Council has increased its operational funding grants for...