Artists and residents on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula are reeling after their Shire suddenly axed key arts grants.
In a move that shocked the local community and arts sector, the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has slashed $480,000 of arts funding in its 2025/26 budget – reducing its Performing Arts Development Fund of $400,000 and Creative Development Fund of $80,000 to zero. Protestors say the cuts – which will hit independent artists the most – will devastate the Peninsula’s artistic community.
On Tuesday 20 May, more than 300 people rallied outside the Council offices in Rosebud and more than 2300 have signed a petition calling on the Council to reverse its decision and restore full funding.
Curator and founder of Spill Projects, Penelope Gebhardt, said the cuts will have far reaching impacts on creative industries, tourism and the wider community. “We have seen wonderful growth and cohesion across the arts in the last few years with the support of these grants,” said Gebhardt.
“Scrapping them would undermine this progress, have significant economic and social impacts, and harm the Peninsula’s reputation as a place of art and culture.”
Independent film-maker and writer Heather Forbes-McKeon, referencing the national arts and culture think tank A New Approach, says their studies have shown that the arts help “build community, belonging and trust; enhance empathy and inclusion; combat the growing issues of loneliness and isolation; assist individuals and communities to recover from disasters and trauma and make cities, suburbs and regions more liveable,” said Forbes-McKeon.
Alan Long, director of MP Music Network which represents 300+ musicians, technicians and venues across the Peninsula, says that a healthy arts scene is “a vital part of the Peninsula’s identity and plays a significant role in our local economy. These grants have been a lifeline for so many local artists, musicians, events, and organisations over the years,” said Long.
Flinders Fringe Executive Producer Claire Thorn said the axed funds had directly contributed to the creation of new work, including the acclaimed and very popular Sea Wolves Howl, which has just presented at Showcase Victoria and has attracted significant interest.
“While the Flinders Fringe Festival may still receive funding from other council grants, it’s hard to stage a festival if the artists can’t develop their shows. That these decisions were made behind closed doors without any consultation with the arts sector is extremely disappointing,” said Thorn.
For more information and to sign the petition, visit: www.saveourartsmp.org for details.
Image: Protesters rally at the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council Offices in Rosebud – photo by Brooke Hampton