In late December, the Melbourne Jazz Co-operative (MJC) received notification that its program funding from Arts Victoria for 2005 would be only $10,000, an effective cut of $10,000 (as it is effectively 50% of our average State funding level over recent years).
While the MJC has been funded by the Australia Council for the past 3 years as a ‘Key Organisation’, its level of State funding support has not reflected either this status or level of activity, and the MJC has remained under-funded and under-resourced as a result.
Despite being the leading presenter of jazz in Melbourne and being in its 23rd, this is a blow for jazz in Melbourne.
For more information on this and how to offer support, please contact Martin Jackson at mjac@netspace.net.au.