Positive initiatives, problematic implications

Any new funding or increased recognition for the arts and those who labour in their service is certainly to be encouraged and applauded. So arts practitioners and acdemics will welcome both the recently announced federal government initiative, Artstart, and the inclusion of creative works in the 2009 ERA (Excellence in Research for Australia) data collection trial currently underway in the Australian universities. Although they are targeted towards different cohorts of the creative arts community, both schemes will have an impact on the educational institutions that are often relied upon to provide a refuge for arts practice in this country.