Australia’s Cultural Crisis: Why Investing in the Arts is a Matter of National Resilience
Australia is at a crossroads, prioritizing short-term national pride fueled by sporting victories over the long-term cultivation of a robust cultural identity. This imbalance, as articulated by artist Ben Quilty, threatens the nation’s social fabric and its ability to confront complex challenges.
A young man’s thwarted ambition encapsulates the problem. When he expressed a desire to attend art school at age 16, his careers advisor didn’t ask about his passions, but rather what was expected of him. The advisor’s subsequent intervention – contacting the student’s parents to push for economics – reveals a systemic devaluation of the arts and a preference for conventionally “safe” career paths.
The Fragility of National Pride
Australia frequently finds its sense of national identity tied to sporting achievements. “On the sporting ground we quickly and easily define contemporary nationhood on an international stage,” Quilty writes. While a victory can provide a temporary boost to national morale, this feeling is fleeting. “A big gang of football players smashing an international opposition into foreign soil is a tonic for social issues…But it lasts an hour or so and is a hit that dissolves quickly through the flimsy social fibre we’ve scraped together over 200 years.”
This reliance on sport, while understandable, is ultimately unsustainable. Quilty draws a powerful analogy: “If sport is sugar, the arts are fibre.” While sugar provides a quick high, fibre is essential for long-term health. Similarly, the arts are crucial for building a resilient and independent culture.
A History of Missed Opportunities
The current situation isn’t new. Quilty points to the mid-1960s, a period of significant reform under Gough Whitlam, as a time when Australia began to define its own unique culture. However, this progress has been hampered by a consistent undervaluing of the humanities. The recent doubling of fees for humanities degrees by a previous federal government exemplifies this trend.
The financial disincentives are stark. As Quilty notes, he himself repaid university debts and paid income tax while pursuing his art, simultaneously working as a builder’s labourer. In contrast, athletes receive substantial support through institutions like the Australian Institute of Sport, funded in part by taxes – including those paid by successful artists like Quilty himself. A chart comparing government funding for the arts versus sports would powerfully illustrate this disparity.
The Courage to Create
The consequences of this imbalance extend beyond financial hardship for artists. Quilty argues that to create art in a society that dismisses its value requires immense courage. He recalls his own experience in 1990, where his careers advisor’s lack of vision mirrored a broader societal lack of ambition.
This lack of support extends to the media landscape. According to Quilty, some media outlets actively undermine creative thinkers while simultaneously relying on them to dissect and analyze societal issues. This creates a hostile environment for those attempting to challenge the status quo.
A Call for Cultural Investment
Australia now stands as a wealthy nation grappling with a sense of diminished purpose. “We stand in the 21st century, one of the wealthiest societies in human history, yet diminished and lost: a nation of rich cowards without even the courage to acknowledge our origins and far less the possibility of a better future.”
Quilty’s message is clear: investing in the arts is not merely a matter of supporting individual artists, but of safeguarding the nation’s future. “Our future artists are the key to building the social fibre that will sustain a healthy, resilient and successful Australia.” This requires a fundamental shift in societal values, coupled with government funding and a willingness to embrace uncomfortable truths. Only through unflinching acknowledgment of the past and a commitment to funding the cultural future can Australia cultivate the dreamers and visionaries needed to navigate the challenges ahead.
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