Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Save Tafe Rally - Well Done Jean and Marilyn & Everybody

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Australian Ceramics Association:


A rally outside State Parliament House was held on Wednesday 14 November 
2012. A human sign was formed by hundreds of TAFE students, teachers and 
supporters of the arts along the length of Macquarie Street. Everyone held pre-
prepared painting canvases spelling out the names of TAFEs around NSW that 
are threatened by the Government budget cuts. Thousands of signed petitions 
were presented to Carmel Tebbutt, MP for Marrickville and Shadow Minister for 
Education and Training, and John Robertson MP for Blacktown and Leader of 
the Opposition outside the gates to Parliament House. Many thanks to all who 
attended and to Penny Ryan, President Fine Arts Inc Meadowbank and her 
team of organisers.








Photos by The Australian Ceramics Association (modified by Ridou Ridou):
































FUND ART EDUCATION IN NSW TAFE
TO: NSW GOVERNMENT

Campaign created by Penny Ryan

This petition of citizens of NSW brings to the attention of the NSW Legislative 
Assembly the urgent need for maintaining funding for accessible art education 
in TAFE. The cultural sector is an economic force, contributing over $30 billion 
to Australia each year – the arts not only create jobs but also create 
communities that are more vibrant, cohesive, healthy and innovative. TAFE in 
NSW puts the ability to make art in the hands of people, without regard to their 
age, wealth or background. TAFE provides hands on training that develops the 
skills necessary for artists to succeed. TAFE art students go on to work in many 
art roles across other industries – in museums and galleries, in community 
health and local government, in entertainment and hospitality industries. Many 
of them set up small businesses teaching, producing and selling their art. We 
undersigned petitioners therefore call on the Legislative Assembly, the NSW 
Premier, the Minister for Education and the Minister for Arts to recognise the 
value of TAFE arts education to NSW and to ensure it continues to be funded at 
viable levels that makes it accessible to all.

Why is this important?

On September 11 the NSW government announced that it would stop funding 
art education in TAFE, leaving 4000 students without access to finishing their 
courses in 2013, unless they can pay fees of around $6000 to $8000 per year. 
TAFE Art courses are the main provider of art education in NSW, with many 
prominent artists getting their first 'hands on' training in TAFE. As of January 1 
2013, up to 30 art schools will begin closing their doors unless they find enough 
people who can afford these fees. The government claims that art is not 
vocational and that there are few job prospects for artists. But TAFE art 
graduates are employed across many industries - as art therapists, as art 
teachers, designers, in galleries and museums.

How it will be delivered

Hard copy petitions have been distributed across NSW to be tabled in 
Parliament on Wednesday 14 November as part of a lunchtime rally. We 
already have 20,000 signatures on these petitions. You can like us on Facebook 
to follow the campaign






















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