As predicted in The Australian, the Arts Minister signed a memorandum of understanding with Melbourne University to create the Australian Institute of Music Performance.
The announcement came less than 24 hours after Mr Garrett received an angry letter signed by 760 artists, including Geoffrey Rush, Barry Humphries, David Williamson, Peter Carey and Paul Kelly, condemning the decision to axe ANAM’s funding.
The new institute, which replaces the Australian National Academy of Music as a school for elite classical musicians, will operate from July 2009.
“This will be a truly national program, supported by national auditions and access to bursaries and scholarships to students outside the Melbourne region,” Mr Garrett said.
The AIMP will receive $2.5 million annual government funding – the same amount allocated to ANAM since its inception 12 years ago.
But yesterday’s announcement left many observers uneasy about the future of elite music training,
…’I would have thought this announcement might include an outline of new directions, new projects and a real commitment to future development, but all the minister’s done is move the money from one organisation to another,” said Melbourne Symphony Orchestra managing director Trevor Green…Report by The Australian.
