Independent advisory cttee on arts censorship to be set up

9/9/98

Attorney General Peter Foss has announced the establishment of an independent advisory committee on censorship to enable Western Australian artists to work with increased confidence and creativity.

The Minister said that, in consultation with Police Commissioner Bob Falconer, an independent committee of arts professionals had been established to advise police on issues of artistic merit in relation to works that might otherwise be in breach of the Censorship Act.

"Where artistic merit is a question, the Commissioner of Police has agreed to take advice from the artistic panel," Mr Foss said.

"The panel is made up of skilled and dedicated professionals who have agreed to share their expertise in balancing the sensitive issues of freedom of artistic expression and censorship."

They are:

+ Maggie Baxter, former curator Curtin University, textiles artist, public art co-ordinator and arts consultant;

+ David Bromfield, former head of the School of Architecture and Fine Arts, University of WA art critic, curator and academic;

+ David Forrest, private gallery owner and Secretary to the Private Galleries Association, which includes most of the leading art galleries including the Aboriginal Art Gallery, Indigenart.

+ Margaret Moore, former curator of the Art Gallery of WA, member of the ArtsWA Arts Development Panel, chairperson of Art on the Move, Artists Regional Exchange, arts writer and consultant; and -

+ Julie Robb, director of the Arts Law Centre, Sydney.

"I think that much pornography is clearly recognisable as such, but there are times when a claim of artistic merit is not so easily dismissed," Mr Foss said.

"That is when the police need access to expert advice. Is that claim of artistic merit genuine or is it merely a way of justifying the peddling of pornography?

"I am confident that the arts community will accept that this panel will be able to give reliable advice to the police on this question."

Media contact: Chris Morris 9321 2222