I’m sorry you were outraged at what Sally Burton had to say at Currency House’s Arts and Public Life breakfast recently. Currency House exists to encourage lively and informed debate and we welcome your response and those of the other contributors.

But the fact is that the Richard Burton Award is given by private philanthropy and those who give in this way follow their own interests. Sally Burton wishes to help our playwrights and would no doubt be searching for a writer in whom she could see a future and a play that she could confidently recommend to the theatres with which she is associated. Perhaps she was even thinking of one that could transfer to the English stage in due course. And she would have chosen guidelines accordingly and judges with some understanding of the experience she could offer. The process is no different from the Belvoir or SBW playwrights’ awards, which have guidelines to reflect their aims, directed at very different constituencies.

It does a critic no good to review a work for not being what they wanted it to be, or the creator not the person for whom they had hoped. It may not be fair or sensible but, provided they keep to the regulations for charity tax deductibility, anyone may make a philanthropic gift for any reason. All they really want is for the money to be useful.

However, by setting up a gift in this way opens Sally Burton to public opinion and to those who have a very different view of theatre and playwriting. The history of awards and commissions for untried plays has not been a happy one and since the National Playwrights Conference introduced workshops such awards have moved from accepting a finished text to developing a play with a skilled team. Sally has obviously taken this advice for next year and will work with Black Swan. We wish her well in that. Private philanthropy can offer the arts a freedom not open to government support and we should do what we can to direct good intentions to their best purpose.

So come, Augusta,to our next breakfast on 29 August. The TV producer Penny Chapman will be our speaker and she is very sure about her intentions.

Katharine
(Katharine Brisbane, chair of Currency House)

Yes I agree with you in regards to top 10 with space for maybe top 12, art is not a competition like sport, there is no definitive finish line, there is a place for a lot of artists at any one time.

This is especially important as how can you choose between Chopin, Stravinsky, Haydn or Gershwin? If you are only looking for Bach.

Art is food for the soul integral part of any community, we must nourish and nurture it so that we have great and healthy sustainable artists, that are inspired and free. As behind any artist; writer or other there is always a great dramaturg and/or producer, no one ever creates alone. These ghosts read and reread and donate so much of their time to help the artists create that excellent work of art.

I have only mentioned $30,000 being small due to it being halved. I have seen this happen time and time again. Of course something can be made cheaper, but at what price? (pun intended).

I really loved what you said in one of our other discussions, that really artists shouldn’t have to apply for grants or prizes or even have people nominate them, they should be sought! And sought intensely. This way you can always find new talent! And reward it!

Just to clarify the Richard Burton Award is a prize – not a grant: a difference worth noting as the notion of a Prize is about excellence, and the notion of a grant is about potential. Money is money – yes, but my issue is with the message I heard at the breakfast: a denial of a prize being awarded because there are no “outstanding plays” is highly problematic.

For me the way in which the message was delivered (in last year’s media release and during question time at the Breakfast) was shocking. And equally as unfortunate as the ugly tone/inelegance of my rant.

The inequality I am most conscious of is that the opinions and “messages” and “symbols” offered by those in positions of cultural leadership (via social status) financial power are louder than those without. Louder perhaps because money brings confidence, and louder perhaps because those who are poor/reliant on the wealth of another are vulnerable.

Though $30,000 might appear a small amount (to you, Michal) for a piece of culture – to many, this is a fortune.(For perspective: in the playwriting world this equates to approx 2.5 full length play commissions). It is the richest playwriting award. And is the largest Symbol to the playwriting community of “Excellence.”

I felt – and still feel – that shortlists are more valuable to our culture than individual awards. I don’t believe in “ultimate” winners – I just don’t – but I love offering a diverse “top ten.” That’s just my opinion.

However I believe philanthropy is Capitalism at it’s most successful and beautiful and I urge everyone to do it. Money carries a very loud message.

People, should give not because they “should” or because artists live traumatic lives or are in crisis but because it’s about what is valuable. If you value art and want it in your life – to transform, provoke, confound, inspire or instruct you – give to it (as a volunteer, a patron, an artist) and give without expectation or righteousness.

Likewise If you value McDonalds invest in them.

I don’t and won’t deny Sally Burton the right to voice an opinion (whether or not she has money) it doesn’t make her immune from criticsm. (Just as my financial situation does not – and has not (clearly)) made me immune from criticism.

This seems to be a one sided debate so far, perhaps some of you are not taking part out of fear of not getting a grant. I agree with you Augusta. It is simply not enough to demand a good play. How can one create guidelines for work that means to be original. Bureaucracy was not invented for artists!

I think donating money is a great responsibility, simply look at world war II or the share market. As by who and where and how the money is donated can kill artists or develop them. And Australia in general is quite good at developing and then killing artists.

Respectfully $30,000 is a very small amount of money for development of a custom made piece of culture. But what is money, as many seem to forget that it is simply our National Wealth, or Wealth of our community. It is all of our work put into a value system, and not simply money that one person made, but the entire nation.

I am originally Polish, and was born into a communist background. Our government tried very hard to control our culture, and failed. I think this is what Augusta is saying. Those with money should take great care in giving, as simply it can be nothing more than a tax deductible propaganda.

My love lays with Hybrid theatre, and I am extremely devoted to discussing modem issues, finding new styles, new forms of communication, understanding the core of semiotics and human nature. I know how important culture is, as good culture can save lives, it can inspire nations, it can reduce depression and it can show us the way in our hard times. And we do live in hard times, we live in most confusing times as our enemies are not easily identifiable. We must fight invisible wars, where our enemies are also our friends, where the structures and patterns we have made are killing our humanity.

I am a writer major and I have written many plays scrips including a 50,000 word thesis, so I do understand writing and writers, but I think what this argument is about is what truly an artist is. And an artist is not something you can shake, true artists have to live with their artistic mutation, which wakes them up like a virus, in the middle of the night, it shakes their entire body, their environment, it forces them to constantly create, to constantly notice the world. Artists cannot live normally. They are possessed for all of their lives whether they choose to follow it professionally or not.

And you Augusta have courageously pointed out a very simply and obvious inequality. Those donating to arts must make as much of an effort understanding artists and why do they create to make their lives easier and harder, as they give their lives and souls day and day to the people.

Thank you for your perspective and writing in – always a pleasure to hear from you.

With all due respect – I am not talking about Sally Burton’s philanthropic career or impact on WA. I am reporting and reflecting on what I saw and heard on Wednesday at The Breakfast which was a speech on philanthropy. I don’t think you were there, aren’t you on tour with Macbeth, Robert?

I have not disputed Sally Burton’s generosity – nor have I said the contribution she makes to the arts in Western Australia doesn’t make a difference. In fact I think I am saying the opposite – that she is in a very powerful cultural position to be heard and I am very ready to listen – but also I am entitled to say that I don’t agree with her opinion about Australian playwriting – nor the reasoning behind not awarding the RBA last year and the subsequent change of guidelines for 2012.

I don’t have anything against her – I disagree with what she said at the breakfast (hence the title of this post). I also disagree with the non-awarding (and in particular the wording) of the reasons why the award wasn’t given – and how this was expressed.

Age has nothing to do with it.

I don’t think expressing my opinion that I am condemning her nor throwing the baby out with the bath water.

I am not denying her right to do whatever she wants.

I also don’t deny you (Caleb, Michael or anyone) the freedom to celebrate her contribution or acknowledge her work (After all this is not an Anti-philanthropy post – and not an Anti-Sally Burton post). I don’t think you or I or anyone would deny her intentions – after all the philanthropic work of Sally Burton is well documented and expressed and is internationally recognised. No one can say she’s not generous.

But I respectfully remind you that I am reflecting and documenting my response to what I saw and heard on Wednesday morning and the comments she made about Australian plays and playwrights – which I disagree with.

Thank you, for your thoughts – and I agree with you – but wanted to clarify that is post is about the speech given at the breakfast – not her age or work in WA.

I always admire your passion for new writers and your work ethic is second to none. I do however feel I have to back Michael and Caleb up on this one. Being from Perth originally and knowing alot of Perth artists I can tell you that a large proportion of them are incredibly grateful to the contribution Sally has made not only financially to the theatre in the state but also in raising its profile in what can be seen as a pretty culturless city. I think everyone shares your main gripe that the Richard Burton award was not given out, this was an opportunity missed, but you do not mention any of Sally’s other good deeds such as bank rolling new productions in Perth or her generosity towards other companies on the west and this I think could lead to an unbalanced view of the woman. I also think because she does not talk about philanthropy in the “call to arms way” you would have liked does not mean she can’t make a difference. She is an older woman and maybe is speaking to a different generation or demographic to us but a generation we need all the same. I guess all I’m saying is let’s not the baby out with the bath water. Is she still allowed to be scurtinised or critiqued because of her wealth? Absolutely and on the award I support alot of what you have to say but let us not forget perspective.

With admiration and respect

Robert Jago

Thanks again for contributing your perspective to my reaction to Sally Burton’s key note address.

I of course don’t know Sally Burton at all – certainly not as intimately as you and Michael do.

What I was reacting to was her presentation at the Currency House Breakfast, and from memory, you weren’t there.

The way she was introduced – and the content of her speech did not match up. I am only giving my perspective of what I saw and heard that day. The description that was given of her by her friend was personal. All I am identifying was that was not what I saw.

I am not condemning her for attempting to support playwrights, Caleb. (Why would I do that?) But I am saying that as a cultural leader – what she says about plays and playwrights is heard and the message and symbol of her arguments has a very big impact.

I am expressing a contrary opinion to hers – and an opinion. And one of those contrary opinio n is that the Greeks “knew how to write a play.”

She’s entitled to her view. I’m entitled to mine.

I am also not saying that she’s not supporting to Australian playwriting. I’ve also not said that she has to – and it is her money and she can do with it what she likes.

I am questioning and disagreeing with the statement that in regards to the Richard Burton Award that Australian playwrights have and will have a hard job to measure up to your playwriting skills. And I am also in no way condemning you or your playwriting skills at all (before you or anyone else miscontrue that aswell). I am saying that a person in position of wealth and power, regardless how “vivacious” she is, is not beyond criticsm. I am responding to the content and the manner in which she presented her ideas on philanthropy. And I am entitled to my opinion as she is hers.

I don’t wish her ill – nor do I deny her generosity. Not sure why you are implying that?

I do think that the message of not awarding an award because the plays are not of an “outstanding standard” and that they’re “not of the same calibre as Clinchfield” – I do disagree with – and further more such statements pit playwrights against each other: something that I absolutely, fundamentally disagree with.

And, I am absolutely sure I would take up issue with Max Afford Award, the Rodney Seaborn Playwright’s Award and the AWGIEs if they too had said that there were no plays as good as a single writer’s play in a particular year.

Perhaps my criticsm feels like a personal attack to you and Michael because you know Sally Burton, but it’s not because I don’t know her at all. All I have to go on is what she said to a room of people about her views on philanthropy and Australian playwriting. However, in that I am attacking the content and method and context of the delivery of her speech last Wednesday. I am questioning the comparisons Sally Burton made.

She compared 1. Eastern VS Western Australian philanthropy; 2. Australian VS European Writing; 3.Caleb Lewis’ play Clinchfield VS the entrants of 2011 RBA.

And I thought 1. was irrelevant. 2. was cringe worthy 3. unfair.

And I agree with Mr McCall – artists are passionate people, and sometimes in passion they get things wrong. I get things wrong – frequently – and I have the great fortune of receiving feedback from friends saying “gus, you got it wrong.” People call me on it and I do my best to remedy the situation. I think that sometimes good people with high profiles also get it wrong -in tone or tenor or in content. But I never, ever said that I think Sally Burton’s intent is in question. I’ve repeatedly said that it’s great – but on this I disagree.

I think we are both fighting the same battle – just on different sides of the fence. Just as Mr McCall didn’t like my tone, I didn’t like her tone at the breakfast. To each their own.

Given my obvious partiality I had wanted to stay on message and keep my points earlier to the Richard Burton Award itself.  

I agree with Michael however that your post felt like an attack on Sally Burton’s character as was an insensitive tweet by yourself regarding her husband’s death. 

Sally Burton is a sixty four year old woman who chooses to donate to the Arts.  You may not like how she does so but that is her prerogative and to condemn her for attempting to support playwrights is I think short sighted. 

I too was disappointed at the non awarding of last year’s prize, as I was with the NSW Premier’s award a few years earlier.  Philosophically I am categorically against the non-awarding of any prize and think it sends a terrible message.  But perhaps you should also take this up with the Max Afford Award, the Rodney Seaborn Playwright’s Award and the AWGIEs to name a few institutions who all maintain the option to withhold the award as part of their conditions of entry.  Maybe that’s okay.  Maybe it’s not.

Sally Burton is a good person doing her best to support Australian writing.   We need more people like her.  

Best Regards,

Caleb Lewis

Thank you for your note and your perspective.

Passion is indeed important – and I respectfully have added your rant to my rant as a companion piece. There is room enough in the world for both.

Firstly, I must correct you in your assumption that I dismiss Sally Burton’s address to Sydne-siders because of the fact she is from Western Australia. I labelled it as “irrelevant” as she was airing grievances with people in WA and praising the East coasters. Which is also supported in The Australian: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/west-lags-behind-in-arts-philanthropy-says-sally-burton-widow-of-richard-burton/story-e6frg6nf-1226363924527

I have no opinion about WA in particular – I just think that her comments and observations would be best placed to the people she sees room for change in – not in a room of the already converted.

I don’t think I ever said or wrote anywhere that Sally Burton is not continuing the award – merely that is re-configured and re-purposed. So suggesting that I said it was removed altogether is not correct. And again – I am not saying that offering an award is great – I am saying that the symbology of not giving an award in 2011 does speak loudly to playwrights.

What I am suggesting is that saying that one play made it difficult for other plays to win it because it was of such a high calibre is a bit unfair – because of the subjectivity of playwriting and reading – but because that is like saying that there will be no “Miss Universe” awarded this year because this years contestants aren’t as beautiful as last year’s contestants. It suggests that there is an ultimate and perfect play template – by which all new plays must be measured. And I am saying that I think this stunts art and avoids investing in playwrights with potential.

I don’t think I ever said that Sally Burton is related to the Queen.

I also don’t think that I said anywhere that YOU have no say in the Australian arts sector. (So I don’t really know what your Christmas Island quip is referring to.)

I don’t have any problem with the West/East divide – in fact I don’t think I ever said anything to that affect. I personally think it is important to remember who you are talking to, when you are speaking – and Mrs Burton’s address seemed to want to hold WA accountable. She was in high praise of the East. Frankly, I don’t EVER consider there to be a divide – and so your attack on this account is misplaced – as I was referring to the content of Mrs Burton’s speech – not my own thoughts on Western Australia.

I agree with your twelfth paragraph – it matches my 27th paragraph “It’s her money. She can do what she wants with it.”

I don’t mind if you think my rants should be more astute. They could be… sure, if I was a journalist. Or if this blog was funded, or representing a community, or claiming to be anything but what it is – an online process diary which keeps my developing thoughts and responses to art and issues facing me as an artist. This is not a piece of journalism.
This is not a blog of ultimate, objective truth.
This is a place of complete subjective, personal reaction.
Warts and all.
These are my thoughts. These are MY responses and reactions.
These are my writings, my typos and my failures. This is also a place for me to reflect. The responses I have – what I write about, when I write – is completely up to me. I have no editor, no one to filter or edit my work – this is my online process diary.

I’m also not writing “stand alone” pieces – this entry is /shoudld be read in context of all my writings on this site (there’s around 500 over the last 5 years).

Now – Mrs Burton WAS very disparaging of those who use TWITTER ( which is in effect a mini blogging communication system.)

I also find it strange that you have assumed that I have not visited WA and are not aware of the town of Augusta (yes I have photos to prove it). Your tone is a little more patronising than I would have expected from one with such an illustrious career and such a significant profile.

But again, Michael, I appreciate the time you have taken to rant on my blog and I openly embrace the fact you are entitled to your perspective – as I am mine. In particular, I think it is lovely and speaks much about you that you so passionately defend your friend – I hope one day when a poor parochial whippersnapper blogs a heartfelt rant about something I’ve been careless about on her blog, that some of my buddies will come to my side and defend me with equivalent passion.

Caleb’s covered a lot of points above, so I’ll just add to it.

Some things to take on board in relation to your rant above. And let’s be honest it is a rant. Why? Because, like Sally Burton and me and pretty much everyone in the arts, you are passionate about our work and sometimes when you’re on that horse, you just have to hang on and keep going. Great. Don’t stop. But be a bit more discerning in what you write.

Oh, and for the sake of disclosure, I have worked for Sally Burton as a director and would consider her a friend, so I’m likely to be bias in my comments. But then again, I think most theatre practitioners in Australia probably know me, either as an actor, director, writer, educator for unis, academies, high schools, theatre companies here and overseas, unionist, philanthropist (in the $100’s of dollars, don’t get excited) and arts advocate up there and shows it with many hours of unpaid (preferably paid) service. As well as being but one of thousands who could also list all these as their job descriptions, I would put Sally Burton down as one of these multi-skilling arts practitioners.

Sally Burton said in 2011, “I was extremely proud of the plays that came out of the 2010 Richard Burton Award for New Plays and I am disappointed that the panel was unable to identify an outstanding entry in 2011. I am committed to the Richard Burton Award for New Plays as an annual award into the future. I am currently considering how this year’s funds might best be used towards a development program for playwrights and will also work with Black Swan to review the Award guidelines prior opening the 2012 Award for submissions” (Black Swan State Theatre Co Website).

So, I think it’s a bit distorted to claim that the money from the 2011 awards isn’t going anywhere for playwrights – it’s the recognition via the award that’s unfortunately not gone out (which is without doubt, a boon for any playwright), but Sally’s financial support HAS continued.

And I think most people who have vested interest in the potential dividends of the award would have read this or heard it on the night, when she announced it. No-one disputes it was disappointing an award wasn’t given, but ultimately the question should be asked, why? Why didn’t Sally feel that an award was appropriate that year? Perhaps you can look into it a little more in a future commentary. Because perhaps that’s a bigger conversation for us all to have and to continue to have?

Also, please please please be a little bit more objective in your views of Australians – Sally has lived for many years in Australia and I think that entitles her to be able to speak on Australian arts issues. She is not related to the Queen despite what’s implied in your classism (that’s for you to figure out), nor is she a colonialist in any shape or form.

Furthermore, I’m from Scotland and feel that I should have some say in the shape of the Australian arts sector since I work in it. And as are many of our playwrights and other practitioners come from elsewhere.

Alternatively, rather than have a voice in Australia, would you rather I hang out on the artistic equivalent of Christmas Island until I get clearance from the mainland.

And please get over yourself in regards to the East/West divide. My God, what are you like – your comments on this are suprisingly parochial. I’m sorry if you think of Western Australia as another country, but under Federation I’m afraid we do have some relevancy to the rest of Australia. Please respect and do not treat us in a way that makes us outcasts in our own land – you are very much in the realm of the colonialist when you do that.

Ultimately, Sally Burton can do what she likes with her money. Why? Because it’s her money. And as most artists would agree, ANY money to fund their projects is welcome.

I think you have to be more astute in your polemic – it is narrow and ill thought through and if it has been thought through, you need to take a step back and breathe. But that’s by the by.

Sally’s work and philanthropy in the arts throughout the world is to be applauded, not disparaged. ANYONE that has the spirit of generosity that she has proven deserves to be celebrated and held as an example. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how much you give, when you give it, how you give it, in what form you give it, as long as it comes from the right place.

Even bloggers. Mrs Burton would never think of you as a mangy dog. To sum up I think it’s your own point that you have to take on board – “My point is that reading and judging plays is a very personal thing”. Enough said.

Keep up the writing, Augusta (also the name of a town in WA if you ever decide to come west you’ll find it), and I look forward to hearing what other people have to say on this matter.