Renowned Australian artist Ben Quilty has issued a powerful critique of his nation's cultural priorities, labelling Australia "a nation of rich cowards" for its chronic underfunding and undervaluing of the arts. In a searing essay, he contrasts the lavish public investment in sport with the financial and conceptual barriers faced by those pursuing creative careers, arguing that future artists are essential for building the social fabric of a healthy and resilient country.
A Personal Story of Discouragement
Quilty recalls the moment at age 16 when he first voiced his ambition to attend art school to his careers adviser. Instead of encouragement, the adviser reacted with alarm, contacted Quilty's parents, and urged them to re-enrol him in economics. This early experience, Quilty suggests, was a symptom of a broader societal timidity and "collective lack of ambition" that prioritises perceived financial security over creative exploration.
Sport is Sugar, Arts are Fibre
The artist draws a stark metaphor to illustrate the national imbalance. "If sport is sugar, the arts are fibre," he writes. He points to the immense investment in sports stadiums, Olympic teams, and institutions like the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), where athletes receive facilities and stipends. Quilty notes, pointedly, that part of the tax he paid from his 2012 Archibald Prize win went towards training athletes at the AIS.
Meanwhile, pursuing an arts education has become "financial stupidity," a situation exacerbated when the previous federal Liberal government doubled fees for humanities degrees. Quilty worked as a builder's labourer to repay his university debt while trying to make art, highlighting the lack of financial support for cultural creators compared to athletes.
The Need for Courage and Investment
Quilty argues that the progressive cultural reforms initiated under Gough Whitlam in the mid-1960s helped define a unique Australian identity. However, that bravery has faded. Today, he states, artists operate in a climate where parts of the media are "determined to shoot down creative minds" attempting to solve problems and imagine new futures.
The solution, according to Quilty, is a society that once again values its dreamers and visionaries. He calls for "unflinching acknowledgment of our past" and governments prepared to substantively fund the nation's cultural future. Supporting artists is not a luxury, he concludes, but the key to weaving the strong social fibre needed to sustain a successful Australia.
Quilty's essay, Collective Ambition, is published in the collection A Time for Bravery by the Australia Institute.
