Art thrives but funds are just as important

CONTEMPORARY art will continue to lead the way in the 2020s, says Nathan Taylor of Despard Gallery.

“What we’ve seen over the past five years is a reorientation of focus on Tasmania as a cultural asset,” Mr Taylor said.

“Ten years ago, graduates from the UTAS art school would ship off and leave. Now the younger generation are tending to stay put, and that’s indicative of Hobart’s development as a cultural precinct.

“Collectors from interstate are looking for work by contemporary Tasmanian artists.

“As the art market becomes more nationalised through digital media, Tassie artists have greater opportunity to exhibit, share and make a living from their work.”

But despite major literary achievements, capped by Richard Flanagan’s 2014 Man Booker Prize win, local literary institutions are running on the smell of an oily rag, with Island Magazine recently defunded by Arts Tasmania on the eve of its 40th birthday.

The Tasmanian Writers’ Centre received $50,000 from Arts Tasmania for the 2020 calendar year.

“We will run workshop programs in Hobart and Launceston, because they are self-funding, but we can’t expand other activities,” director Sue Kennedy said.

The centre’s membership is growing and its Hobart Writers Festival broke even in September.

“That was really good considering we had festival funding only for the opening and closing events,” Ms Kennedy said.

Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra chief executive Caroline Sharpen will deliver a new residency program including concerts, masterclasses and workshops in North-West Tasmania in 2020.

“Next year we will spend two periods of time in the North-West, giving masterclasses, workshops, lessons, and playing with community ensembles,” she said.