The Australia Council for the Arts has released a discussion paper for consideration and comment by interested new media artists, arts organisations and arts stakeholders.

The discussion paper forms the basis for responses about the future of new media art practice in Australia. These responses will be sought through written submissions and a series of focus groups to be held in five captial cities.

The paper aims to provoke responses. This means there are some contradictory points of view within the paper designed to assist people in thinking about the range of issues a ‘scope’ of the new media sector can cover.

Readers may well identify some gaps in the scope presented in the discussion paper. Our aim is to provoke responses in order to address such gaps, and build an understanding about what key issues should form the basis for strategic development in the coming years.

The discussion paper has been developed by Dr Elaine Lally of the University of Western Sydney’s Centre for Cultural Research in consultation with the New Media Arts Scoping Study Advisory Group.

Invitation to respond

Individuals artists, arts organisations and other parties interested in the development of new media art in Australia are invited to respond to the discussion paper.

When drafting written submissions respondents are asked to structure their responses against the discussion paper or the three outcomes of:

1. Short-term initiatives that can be implemented to have immediate effect on gaps.
2. Further research projects to address gaps in existing knowledge about new media art practice.
3. Long range initiatives that address the sustainability of new media practice in Australia

Written submission can be emailed to the Australia Council – nmascopingstudy@ozco.gov.au or posted to New Media Art Scoping Study, PO Box 788, Strawberry Hills, NSW 2012.

The closing date for written submissions is 3 August 2006.

The New Media Art Scoping Study Report will be presented to the Council at its September meeting. The Council will respond to the recommendations of the Scoping Study and these will be made public after the meeting, along with the final New Media Art Scoping Study Report.

The New Media Art Scoping Study is managed through the inter-arts office at the Australia Council for the Arts. It is led by Andrew Donovan, director of the inter-arts office.