Petition

The NSW Government is withdrawing funding for art courses from TAFE from January 1st next year. Please sign the petition to protest.

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.

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. TAFE Art courses are the main provider of art education in NSW, with many prominent artists getting their first ‘hands on’ training in TAFE. The withdrawal of funding will mean that only the wealthy will be able to afford private art education and NSW will suddenly find it no longer has emerging artists with skills coming through.

Read more at http://www.communityrun.org/petitions/fund-art-education-in-nsw-tafe.