Press Release Re: Effie Crump

The following Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance press release courtesy of Jeff Watkins - thanks Jeff. Subject to permission being granted, there should be a copy of Steve's letter to the Minister et al. available here soon. PRESS RELEASE. UNION DEMANDS ARTS MINISTER STEPS ASIDE. Minister for the Arts Peter Foss has outraged members of WAs performing arts community with comments made to The West Australian(Aug 28).In that article Mr Foss is quoted as saying that "...tax-payer funding of the Arts was for the benefit of audiences, not as an employment subsidy for Actors..."."This is a completely absurd thing to say. Mr Foss seems intent on driving a wedge between audience and performers, when in the context of a theatre performance these two groups are dependant on each other" Branch Secretary of the M.E.A.A. Steven Shaw said."Reading between the lines, Foss is obviously of the opinion that WAs professional performers are not justified a wage like any other employee and his comment infers professional Actors to be mere hobbyists"."Without doubt his statement indicates a complete lack of understanding or appreciation of the dedication, training and expertise required for a professional career in the Theatre"."Perhaps the Minister should consider who it is that subsidises his own employment. He may even wish to consider exchanging his income for the $11,000 per annum average of the professional performer. We know what the short answer to that would be," Mr Shaw said.Most recently the Minister refused assistance to the professional company, the Effie Crump Theatre Company, which had made a very modest request for funds to guarantee their survival."In the past, Mr Foss has been prepared to bail out struggling arts companies, yet his decision not to assist Effie Crump will see the closure of a company that has averaged over 6 productions each year of the past decade. This is an example of his inconsistent and even dictatorial approach to the management of the Arts portfolio."It was a Foss decision that forced the closure of the State Theatre Company resulting in an audience loss that has never been recovered. His decision regarding Effie Crump will see an audience loss of a further 18,500 people per year."Both of these decisions make a mockery of his statement that tax-payer funding is for the benefit of audiences. Minister Foss has lost contact with this portfolio and professional performers have lost faith in him and his government. It is time he stood aside and allowed the Arts portfolio to be managed by someone with an interest in the Arts prospering and flourishing not withering into obscurity," Mr Shaw said.Further Information: Branch Secretary Steven Shaw: 9227 7924 (w)