MEAA: End of ABC Arts unit “a body blow” to sector

The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance has criticised a decision by ABC to fold its standalone arts unit, as part of a wider Content restructure, claiming it will downgrade of coverage of the arts by the broadcaster.

Yesterday ABC announced a newly created Arts, Music and Events department to be led by Kath Earle. But the move means Managing Editor Arts and an Arts Digital Editor roles will be abolished.

Chief Content Officer Chris Oliver-Taylor said, “Utilising the vast experience that Kath has gained during her tenure at the ABC, Kath will now lead a combined department focusing on the ABC’s continued and major commitment to the Arts as well as consolidating the significant impact of the ABC’s Events team. Such events include coverage of ANZAC Day, Gallipoli, the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and Australia’s celebration of New Years Eve. Music continues to be a driver of our younger audiences and we have moved the production of rage from the Music Audio team to the Music screen team.”

Other journalists currently employed in the arts team will be redeployed to the newly created Art, Music, and Events department, while Art Works hosted by Namila Benson (pictured) will continue.

However The Age speculates the work of an online arts team will now be “managed from the Digital Innovation team” without the same curatorial skills.

ABC Charter includes a requirement “to encourage and promote the musical, dramatic and other performing arts in Australia.”

MEAA Chief Executive Erin Madeley said the decision by the ABC flew in the face of the Revive National Cultural Policy which seeks to restore the importance of the arts in Australia’s society and economy.

“Arts coverage has been a fundamental role of the ABC from its earliest days so we struggle to see how this decision fulfils its charter obligations to ‘encourage and promote the musical, dramatic and other performing arts in Australia’,” she said.

“Arts coverage by all media in Australia has been on the decline for the past decade and this decision by ABC management is a body blow to our cultural sector and to arts audiences.

“For people living in remote and regional Australia who rarely have physical access to arts and rely on the national broadcaster to provide them with their cultural ‘fix’, this risks leaving them with even fewer opportunities to participate in our artistic and cultural life.

“And it will make it more difficult for artists, particularly those at the beginning of their careers, to get the exposure on which they can build a lasting body of work.”

Yesterday ABC noted its key genre priorities under the Content division as Indigenous, Arts, Children’s, Scripted, Entertainment and Factual (News is a separate division).

In a statement ABC said statements about savings and reinvestment will in no way diminish its ability to meet its Charter responsibilities to arts coverage.

“No other Australian broadcaster comes anywhere near offering the depth and breadth of arts coverage that ABC does. The proposals announced yesterday will see savings reinvested into the ABC’s arts coverage which will lead to more of the arts content audiences want and expect.

“Our commitment to the arts remains as solid and comprehensive as ever, with our excellent screen arts team moving into a new screen Arts, Music and Events department and our arts digital roles coming together within the newly formed Digital and Innovation team. Reports to the contrary are not accurate.

“Australians turn to us to keep them informed and up to date on all the art news and events. There is an extensive range of art-related content on ABC TV and ABC iview – which includes the Art & Culture collection – as well as on our ABC Arts YouTube channel and the ABC Arts Instagram account.”

It also noted daily arts offerings on audio platforms and weekly arts magazine show, Artworks.

“We are regularly commissioning documentaries and series such as Firestarter: The story of Bangarra, Finding the Archibald and Great Southern Landscapes with Rachel Griffiths.”