The Music Trust's Knowledge Base combines two big tasks:
*To complete the analysis of the present status of all music in Australia — culturally, socially, economically and politically. Music faces formidable competition from numerous other activities, especially in the economic and political areas. What's more, the globally open music market makes it subject to huge threats and opportunities.
*Since 2014, the Knowledge Base has developed four scenarios to 2035 ranging from "best" to "worst" case — the chart shows a very wide range with no certainty of what can happen if no action is taken. Uncertainty starts at the global level. International politics and economics follow unpredictable directions, affecting individual countries and their respective economic and cultural sectors.
The first of fourteen scenario papers outlines the vision and also contains a list of the subsequent papers (paper #15 is in the pipeline). The four scenarios, with numerical forecasts for each, will be published as a Music Trust e-book in mid-2016. This will provide a means for corrective planning to secure the best possible solution for all activities, including the music sector — how to promote the best and shun the abysmal. The project is a world first for any artform.
Complex Adaptive Systems (see middle column of this page) is a basic part of this research. Again, applying it to an artform is a world first.
The scenario papers form the category "Scenarios for the Future", which is found by clicking on Browsing on the menu bar above, then on All Categories.
Reflection should make anyone realise that culture is literally beyond valuation. One can put an economic value on traded goods and services and perhaps estimate other services derived from our great and indispensable cultural and ecological assets and ecosystems, but much remains out of reach. This is important for our music sector scenarios. Much ecological and cultural damage is beyond measurement. Learn more...
This is not news but our "money pig" keeps an essential issue open. Funding has been declining for several years now and institutional funding arrangements are under threat. We can hope that positive changes will happen under the Turnbull government but not too much is visible yet. Learn more...
Full list here .... Selected summaries below.
Green Music, an Australian climate advocacy organisation, sent AN OPEN LETTER TO 5 MUSIC FESTIVALS ABOUT PLASTIC WASTE. Green Music persuaded major festivals to cease distributing bottled water.
A NEW APPROACH TO ARTS ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH has been made possible by an initiative and funding partnership by three foundations.
Surveying the situation, the author finds THE TROUBLE WITH TEACHING MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS rests on a lack of valuing of music education, and consequently a lack of provision by authorities at all levels.
SCHOOL FUNDING: MORE PUBLIC FUNDS ARE GOING TO STUDENTS OF SOME PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAN TO STUDENTS OF GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS. This study gives details.
MUSIC EDUCATION STRATEGY 2019 TO 2029, SOUTH AUSTRALIA is an unusual and rounded policy document released by the Liberal government elected in 2018.
The LABOR NATIONAL POLICY PLATFORM: POLICY FOR THE ARTS 2019 announces the Party’s intentions if it is elected in May. Commentary by Richard Letts.
ARTS ELECTION POLICY OF NSW STATE LABOR PARTY, 2019, was announced in advance of the March election. It is based on a state parliamentary inquiry into an ailing commercial music industry, its main focus.
One of the most extensive study of entertainment industry workers undertaken anywhere in the world, WORKING IN THE AUSTRALIAN ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY (2016) uncovered serious health and wellbeing concerns for arts workers.
CULTURAL DATA FOR EACH AUSTRALIAN ELECTORATE is an interactive resource that provides data for each Australian electorate on matters such as arts attendances, attitudes to the arts, ticket-buying behaviour, links to other information and much more.
The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the practice of jazz in Australia.
AGAINST THE AUSTRALIA COUNCIL AS ARTS ADVOCATE responds to an article by David Pledger which begins by noting the widespread dissatisfaction in the arts community that the Australia Council did not energetically oppose actions of the Arts Minister. The author argues that the arts community should do its own advocacy and not depend upon an agency of government.
The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the composers of art music and their works.
This important paper, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL ARTS POLICY, is primarily a description of the policy making process at the national level, the efforts by the arts sector to influence the outcomes and an overall assessment of the status and effectiveness of policy making.
10 WAYS TO SAVE LIVE MUSIC IN YOUR CITY outlines the strategies adopted by the industry and city and state governments.
The article INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY: WORKFORCE FOR THE NEW ECONOMY points to the obvious role of arts education in building an innovative workforce, and puts forward actions to be undertaken by a so far uncomprehending government.
According to OECD benchmarks, AUSTRALIA LAGS OTHER NATIONS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE, due above all to insufficient government funding.
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT MANIPULATION OF ARTS SUBSIDIES records changes made in the allocation of arts subsidies especially those previously diverted from management by the Australia Council to direct control by the Arts Minister
New South Wales Regional Conservatoriums: responding to school communities and state education policy offers key information about the 17 conservatoriums, unique in Australia.
ETHNOMUSICOLOGY IN AUSTRALIA describes how and where the discipline is conducted and some of its more notable achievements.
PROMOTING DIVERSITY OF CULTURAL EXPRESSION IN THE ARTS IN AUSTRALIA is an official report on Australia’s implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, in the form of a set of case studies.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN THE CREATIVE SECTOR: INCHING TOWARDS A MORE DEMOCRATIC CULTURE briefly summarises observations and proposals from leading thinkers on inclusion and representation of culturally diverse artists and arts practices within the creative sector in Sydney.
The Music Trust’s monthly ezine has music news, articles, reviews, goss from Australia and all over the world. CLICK for current edition.
Many record reviews include video or audio illustrations.
RECORDINGS
CLASSICAL ‘All the Stops’ - David Drury – 3 CDs, Sydney Town Hall organ – Australia’s best organist / ‘Winterreise’ (Schubert) – Nathan Lay & Brian Chapman - performed in German and English.
CLASSICAL NEW MUSIC ‘Fandango Returns’ – retro of composer Ann Carr-Boyd – ‘diverse voices’ / ‘Crossing’ – Jane Sheldon, Julian Curwin – ‘poetic, unpretentious, stunning, captivating’ /
JAZZ/IMPROVISATION ‘The Dark Pattern’ – Phil Slater - tough listen but ‘[jazz] record of the year.’ / ‘Amen’ – Joseph Franklin, Mark Hannaford – ‘a strange beauty’ / ‘Skim’ – Coast, Paul Derricott – superbly talented players / ‘Travelling Tales’ – Adam Simmons, Arcko – ‘exciting…lush’.
CONTEMPORARY ‘Field Recordings’ Blackbird FC rock-pop – great songs /
You can read this month’s reviews at the link below and also all the reviews ever published on the site – now over 500. Search by title, artist, genre, reviewer. Go to Loudmouth Reviews
While you are there, if you click on the “Loudmouth” logo at top left, you will open the rest of the month’s ezine.
The Music Trust’s Music in Australia Knowledge Base is the principal source on Australian music sector facts, figures and issues. It covers the entire music sector including the music industry, music education, and music in the community. This superior source constantly takes new steps to understand the future — including the milestone 2014-16 scenario planning project.
The Knowledge Base content is prepared by authoritative writers, contributing their work freely. Readers are invited to comment, contribute or suggest new content. Guidelines for Contributors allows your personal style to fit in. Please contact us with original material or changes to existing articles.
See the full-size Tree of Knowledge. Despite its rapid development many gaps remain. Do have a look - we need help to fill the gaps!