Week 2, Day 005 No Funding Granted

B, B & B didn’t get ANY government funding specifically for this Tour. Particularly surprising is the toss by the Arts Victoria Touring Project – designed to support Victorian galleries – especially in regional areas – in obtaining Victorian art produced in Victoria for Victorians. It was very disheartening to be sure! There has been no explanation or feed back on this. At least this rejected application supported by the six participating Victorian galleries was a shared disappointment. But with more than two years of planning after the regional Launch by Anthony Camm at the Ararat Regional Art Gallery, B, B & B must not be allowed to come to nothing! With Ian Tully from Swan Hill Regional Gallery as the intrepid Tour Host and six keen venues, thankfully B, B & B continues – perhaps on a shoestring, but with plenty of goodwill and enthusiasm!

Hold on, I just visited the website for Arts Victoria Touring Project recipients and have some ideas as to why B, B & B did not get funding…this project is not by NETS Victoria, who like to create their own tours; it is not ‘multi-artist’ based – seen to be giving more for less; not theatre or orchestra, not Regional Arts Victoria, not Museum based, etc.…this is almost entirely about one government hand paying the other or presenting safe, widely accepted arts outcomes. My interpretation: No handouts for edgy installation art, itself a tricky medium which many outlying galleries do not have the courage to show.

We should not feel badly about not getting the grants, in the least.