Readers may wish to access the theory on which the article is based, which is expressed in my new book - What Art Is - and Isn't - which is published in New York, but available from Barnes and Noble and
Amazon on line.
Or contact me through my website, <donaldart.com.au>

Yes, well. 'The Arts' in Australia certainly is an 'industry' -- and a mature one at that. It's obvious: just consider the size of the bureaucracy. For each branch of 'art' you have something like ten civil servants, each earning $120,000/yr, whose job is to distribute $500,000 in grants once annually. They solicit complex 20-page applications from thousands of hungry 'artists' nationwide, then gift between $10,000 and $50,000 to each of 30-odd lucky recipients, taking due care to ensure all states and territories receive a share, all ethnicities and cultures are represented, and as many neophyte try-hards are rewarded as established long-term practitioners. This process is overseen by teams of senior arts administrators, each supported by a seven-figure budget, whose job is to generate good publicity amongst Parliamentarians and the commentariat, and to prevent public funds from falling into the hands of 'artists' whose work could be classified as demotic (i.e. popular) as opposed to properly proletarian (i.e. ideologically trendy). This is high-minded support of Australia's proud culture, and not in the least mercenary; hence, it would be out of bounds to notice if the book was ever published, the play performed, or the the painting sold. It's very gratifying to get a grant -- I've scored a couple over the years. Recipients of government largesse receive respect and admiration (if sometimes grudging) for their achievement. What they don't get, of course, is a salary. It's an honour, but all up, I'd rather be the paper-pusher with a six-figure income, thank you very much.

Thanks, Donkeygod, for not getting my point - and for MAKING MY POINT!!
donaldart

Donkey, I'm sure you had fun spending it, but didn't it make you feel just a little dirty, receiving funds from such a disgusting system?

Yes, Hasbeen. Just a little. But I got over it. The thought of somebody else walking off with $25K and wasting it on some dreadful, politically correct contemporary novel of urban angst was just too ... y'know? So I wrote a book of ... poetry. Heh, heh, heh ...

Good on you Donkey, well done.