Proposals for Creative Industries

 Extracts from letter sent to DCAL 2011)

 

 A new approach needs to be developed to create a level playing field between existing funded arts organisations and new groups with new initiatives, who presently cannot compete with heavily funded groups.

 Some government money is still essential to avoid the collapse of existing groups and to stimulate new innovative, well managed projects which would be reluctant to take off in this economic climate.

Pilot projects could be set up for which partial up-front funding could be provided for proposals with sound artistic and management content; proposals that can be held accountable and be fully transparent through the delivery of the goods. They simply wouldn’t receive further support if they couldn’t deliver.

 

There needs to be a drastic cut back on bureaucracy. The reality for organisations that receive core funding is that they have to engage employees just to deal with the bureaucracy and for the purpose of constantly applying for more public money.

 

 The current artificial “tendering” process that has become a growing stipulation for receipt of public money. This needs to be restructured to allow for more efficient hiring of services.

 

 Under present guidelines for funding organisations need to have committees. Committees are notoriously a tremendous waste of time and energy.

 

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