Helen Garner & Christos Tsiolkas to headline arts sector hearings

A parliamentary inquiry into the state of Australia’s arts sector will hold its first virtual public hearings this week.

Communications and the Arts Committee Chair Dr David Gillespie says authors, artists, performers, musicians, arts advocates and academics will speak about their experiences of the past year, as well as their visions for the future, at the hearings.

‘I’m pleased that major Australian cultural contributors like Helen Garner, Dr Charlotte Wood and Christos Tsiolkas will be appearing at our first hearing,’ Dr Gillespie said.

‘I look forward to hearing from these prominent Australians, and from all witnesses, about the significant contribution the arts makes to our lives, our economy and our way of coping with difficult events.’

In addition to receiving hundreds of formal submissions, the Committee has received nearly 5,000 responses to an online survey on the state of Australia’s arts industry.

‘These responses detail the vital role that literature, art, music and more have made to people’s lives,’ Dr Gillespie said.

‘Although we are consuming, and perhaps appreciating, the arts more in light of COVID-19 and lockdowns, it has become much more difficult for those who create the content we are consuming so rapidly. The Committee is keen to explore how we can move forward as a nation of artists and arts lovers.’