David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.


08 August 2020

Yes, Minister : PAY ARTISTS LAST


24 June 2020 : THE AGE :

Arts sector to share in $250m in loans, grants as part of COVID-19 package
Arts Minister Paul Fletcher   


 Yesterday, Tony Burke, Shadow Minister for the Arts on
We’ve just found out why no one even knows whether they are even eligible for the so-called support package for arts and entertainment workers. The guidelines brief is still sitting on the Minister’s desk waiting for his signature. 

This is a sector that was almost completely shut down by Government decisions in March. But for three months they insisted the sector - which employs hundreds of thousands of people - was getting enough support and didn’t need a rescue package.

That eventually became untenable. So after more than 100 days of dithering they finally announced a $250m support package on June 25.

The package has some problems but Labor welcomed the extra investment. The sector needs all the support it can get.

But more than six weeks later, nothing has happened. Not a dollar has been spent. No guidelines for the grants and loans have been released. No one knows whether they will even be eligible to apply.

Once the guidelines are approved it could take another 12 weeks until any grants or loans are approved. That means November.

So, November..... That is eight months after this crisis began and this entire sector was almost completely shut down.

We asked the Office of the Arts about the delay in a Senate committee yesterday. They told us they had finished the guidelines - and were waiting on Minister Paul Fletcher to approve them.

While the sector is desperately waiting for help the guidelines are sitting on the minister’s desk just waiting for his signature. No worries minister, it’s not like it’s urgent or anything.

This is sadly typical of this Government: the delivery never matches the announcement, the reality never matches the promise. Australia’s arts and entertainment sector workers deserve much better than this.
Theatre of the Accountants of Regard  
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 someone looks at something...
  
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