ACT arts minister Gordon Ramsay will nearly double the arts projects spending for 2017 after outcry from local artists over an "unprecedented" drop in funding.
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In December, it was announced 14 projects would share in about $250,000 of funding through artsACT in 2017, compared to about $730,000 in 2016.
Mr Ramsay said as a result of community feedback, an extra 14 projects would be funded. It is understood the money will be brought forward from the next ACT budget.
"I am delighted that the ACT Government is providing an additional $230,000 for arts projects to occur in the 2017 calendar year on top of the $248,000 announced in December 2016. This will fund a further 14 projects," Mr Ramsay wrote on his Facebook page on Friday afternoon.
However the total figure is still more than $250,000 below arts project funding levels from last year.
Mr Ramsay did not address the funding gap but did address concerns around the transparency of the funding pool, which local artists feared could lead to fewer applications in future.
"These artists simply can not afford to wait six months to find out that their application was unsuccessful due to the funding pool being reduced in size by two thirds without notice," Jack Lloyd told Fairfax Media last year.
Mr Ramsay said in future rounds he would outline the amount of funding available in each round so that artists were aware of the size of the pool when they are applying.
"I am strongly committed to ongoing discussions with the arts community on a range of issues, including funding, and formalising ways of consulting with the arts community on the future of arts and culture in Canberra," Mr Ramsay said.
Composer Michael Sollis said while the funding shortfall was still a problem, the experience had proved an opportunity for "closer interaction" between the government and artists.
"I think that the reality is that even though there's been addition into that fund the reality is it's only 65 per cent of funding over previous years. Personally I still think it represents a problem however I do certainly acknowledge the minister has listened to community and responded in a positive way," Mr Sollis said.
Playwright David Atfield also welcomed the funding but said their campaign was not over.
"We'll pushing for another arts advisory body. That disappeared over the last few years, and we would like to see more direct communication with the minister, that [funding] decision wouldn't have gone ahead last year if such a body was in place," Mr Atfield said.
The coalition of artists have also called on the territory government to restore the peer advisory committee, which gave artists more input into how funding in the sector was allocated, and also install an indigenous arts committee or officer.
"My feeling from that meeting with the minister is that he is very keen to work with the arts community and consult with us so a major funding decision like that can't come out of the blue again," Mr Atfield said.
