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NFSA, AFTRS the back office functions of a number Minister George Brandis, Labor's Mark
of Canberra-based collection agencies
Dreyfus and Greens Leader Senator
budgets trimmed including the NFSA, National Gallery of Milne.
Australia, National Library of Australia The letter is signed by more than 120
[Thu 15/05/2014 12:20 AM] and Old Parliament House will affect industry figures .
the Archive.
By Don Groves The letter claims a proposal to reduce
In April, NFSA CEO Michael Loebenstein
The National Film and Sound Archive announced a restructuring entailing staff by more than 10% will lead to the
and the Australian Film Television and shedding jobs and reducing its touring sacking of some of the NFSA’s most
Radio School have not escaped program and the number of events at experienced managers, administrators
unscathed from the federal Budget its Arc cinema in Canberra, blamed on and industry-trained professionals.
cuts. increased perating costs as the archive That's despite assurances from the CEO
that there would be no forced lay-offs
Meanwhile, the lack of transparency in continues to convert its library to as the workforce is reduced from 206
a pending restructure of the NFSA has digital. to 178.
been criticised by producers, directors, AFTRS is taking a small cut in funding. It
writers, actors, academics and got $24.4 million in the current The signatories demand the immediate
journalists. financial year. That falls by $94,000 to public release of the Loebenstein NFSA
business review and that the NFSA
The NFSA received $27.07 million from $24.3 million in 2014-2015. Allocations convene an open forum to enable a full
the government in the current financial for the following years are $24.15 public discussion of these matters
year. That falls to $25.9 million for each million, $24.03 million and $24.25 before final decisions on terminations,
of the next two fiscal years. The million. sackings and personnel restructures
allocations beyond that are $25.74 The allegedly secret process of the come into effect.
million and $26.01 million. NFSA restructure has been called into
From IF Magazine (abridged)
It is not clear how the government’s question by Geoff Gardner, a former
announcement that $2.4 million will be director of the Melbourne Film Available on line at www.if.com.au
saved over four years by consolidating Festival, in an open letter to NFSA chair
Gabrielle Trainor, copied to Arts
Email Exchange
To David Donaldson from Mike Trickett
Hi David,

I was told recently that following the demise of KINO magazine and the ACTS group in Sydney,
that all of their photo collection was donated to the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA).
What chance do you think those photos have of being catalogued and preserved, and what chance
is there that they will be available (at a reasonable cost) for historical societies (like CATHS) for
use as illustrations in articles.
Regards Mike

Yes, Mike, this is the point that I think is most worth arguing at the present time.
Unlike other Canberra museums and galleries, whom NFSA people seem to want to get up to
an elite par with, the NFSA has purchased virtually nothing of the many tens of thousands of
items they hold. Everything was donated by the public, whether industry or lay people with the
aficionados in the mid of that spectrum.
That is why people want to see, expect to see, and have a right to see Australian films at the
Arc Cinema and around Australia.

While those intended but unspecific consultations are under way is a time to make the point as
from those Kino photos — that people want to see what has been donated, not to pay
exorbitantly for NFSA overhead. It would be reasonable to pay towards the direct curatorial
and preservation work, yes.
Best –David (You can quote me).

Reel Deals - 33 - June 2014