Classical Battle

Australia faces a tough decision: The Sidney Dance Company (SDC), as well as the three leading orchestras of the country are in dire straits and the goverment has, in a recent report, suggested that reducing their size might be the solution. This would, in effect, mean that none of the big orchestral works could be performed without the assistance of outsiders. Also, no further loans would be provided for the Dance Company, who already finds it impossible to repay $600.000. It seems to be the same old problem facing all comparable institutions worldwide, but timing for the government plans could hardly be worse - Australia is whitnessing a strong economic upturn and stockmarkets are booming. This has lead many to ask, why the nation's wealth was wasted on mere profits, instead of spending it on culture (a perfectly justifiable question, actually). The situation turned even more heated, when popular radio DJ Alan Jones decried polticians for their emphasis on blind liberalism and warned that orchestras might disappear altogether in the not too distant future. The battle is sure to go into a next round, as the SDC's artistic director Graeme Murphy has also made his intention clear to keep fighting for his ensembles future. The decision will be about one question only: How much is the country prepared to pay for its artistic riches?

To make things worse, the annual Mo Awards, one of the most important events in Australia's Music world, announced they were on the brink of insolvency.

Source: The Australian