The Parliament House Art Collection must retain its value and vibrancy under the new guidelines announced today by the President of the Senate, say the Australian Democrats.
Democrats Arts spokesperson, Senator Aden Ridgeway, said the expanded art advisory committee should continue to prioritise purchasing the original works of emerging and young artists to retain the artistic and financial value of the collection.
"We now see a situation where politicians with little or under-developed artistic expertise will sit in judgement of the work of artists, when this task should remain with those skilled in the area," said Senator Ridgeway.
"This type of action reeks of the obsessive control and straight-jacketing of cultural expression which has become a hallmark of this Government.
"The review has recommended expanding the purchasing policy to include the purchase of an "alternative" set of reproductions, but provides no expanded budget to do so.
"The current policy of collecting the work of emerging and living artists means the value of the collection has increased almost 5 times from the initial investment.
"The purchase of reproductions will add no value to the collection and use the very limited funds available for purchase of works.
"The Democrats encourage the new advisory committee to keep up the practice of supporting our Australian artists by continuing to prioritise the work of young and emerging artists in the Parliament House art collection," said Senator Ridgeway.
