Copyright Agency makes $150k investment in arts criticism and reviews

The Copyright Agency, in partnership with the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, has announced funding of $150,000 to support the publication of more arts reviews and criticism in the Australian, the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), the Age, Brisbane Times and WA Today.

The $150,000 is in addition to spending by News Corp and Nine on arts and review coverage. At SMH and the Age, the grant and investment money will be put towards 100 additional reviews focused on books, plays and visual arts from around Australia. The mastheads will also be recruiting critics-in-residence for books, visual arts and theatre, to add to the existing stable of critics.

At the Australian, News Corp’s investment coupled with the grant will support a weekly column by poet, editor, critic and academic Sarah Holland-Batt, who will review new books and cover key issues within the writing sector.

Judith Neilson Institute executive director Mark Ryan said: ‘Coverage of Australia’s arts scene is important, and our support will generate more reviews and criticism, not just for Melbourne and Sydney audiences, but across the country. It will also allow these mastheads to hire new critics, which is good news for arts journalists.’

Copyright Agency CEO Adam Suckling said: ‘Our job is to support Australian creativity by ensuring that the rights of publishers, writers and visual artists are respected and that they receive fair payment for use of their work.’

Category: Local news