Canberra literary organisation MARION will have its annual ACT Government operational funding cut by almost 19 per cent next year, despite the government increasing overall funding for artrs organisations by 25 per cent.
MARION has called on arts minister Michael Pettersson MLA to restore its funding to what it considers a sustainable level.
MARION currently receives $185,000 a year. Under the new Arts Organisation Investment Program, it applied for $230,000 a year for four years (2027-30), but was instead offered $150,000 a year for two years (2027-28).
The offer is $35,000 below its current annual funding and $80,000 below the amount it requested.
“Such a drop represents a level of funding that threatens MARION’s longer-term sustainability and survivability,” MARION patron Dr Craig Cormick OAM said.
The government’s. offer was also lower in nominal terms than MARION’s annual operational funding at any point in the last decade: the organisation received $160,000 a year in 2016.
“Over that decade, the costs of running an arts organisation have increased substantially, including wages, artist fees, insurance, and generational operating costs,” Dr Cormick and fellow patron Aunty Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello OAM said.
“In real terms, $150,000 today therefore represents considerably less organisational capacity than $160,000 did a decade ago.”
An ACT Government spokesperson said that funding outcomes varied between organisations, and were determined through a competitive assessment process.
Aunty Jenni said the assessment had overlooked MARION’s achievements, support for writers, and financial recovery.
This past year, the patrons noted, authors from the ACT region have won the Miles Franklin Award (Omar Musa, for Fierceland) and the NSW State Library’s Biography Award (Helen Ennis, for Max Dupain: A Portrait). They have been shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards (Dr Cormick and Darren Rix for Warra Warra Wai). And their books have been adapted for television (Chris Hammer).
MARION’s audited financial statements showed it had returned to surplus while continuing to meet its funding agreement, the patrons noted.
“MARION’s high achievements of members in national literary awards; the quality and degree of supports provided to members; actual financial strengths and recovery were overlooked by artsACT in its assessment of MARION’s request for funding, demonstrating a clear failure to know the organisation and its operations,” Aunty Jenni said.
Literature only accounts for less than 2 per cent of the Arts Organisation Investment Program.
“For an artform that is so widely practiced and engaged with across our community, we think that level of investment is extraordinarily low,” the patrons said.
The government spokesperson said the Arts Organisation Investment Program was only one part of its support for literature. It provides $70,000 for the Canberra Writers Festival, and supports the sector through the ACT Book of the Year awards, competitive arts grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, and year-round funding opportunities of up to $5,000. In 2025-26, artsACT provided more than $150,000 directly to writers through artist grant programs.
“The Government recognises the significant contribution writers make to Canberra’s cultural life and remains committed to supporting literary development, participation and engagement across the community,” the spokesperson said.
“The Government remains committed to fostering a vibrant literary sector as part of a strong, diverse and sustainable arts ecosystem.”
