Art and culture is a unique element that is present in every society and nation. It expresses the ideas, feelings and values of a society. It can justifiably be said that the richness of a society is determined by its art and culture. According to Theodor Adorno, culture is described as “that which goes beyond the system of self-preservation of the species,” which seems to contradict its essentiality to society. Even with rapid changes in the world through wars and civilization, arts and culture has remained a substantial facet of society throughout time. Despite its apparent appreciation in most societies, survival of the arts has without a doubt been challenging.
An artist is defined as “a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination”. Artists involved in the arts and culture are in a constant struggle between expressing their artistic sides and their need for self-welfare. Howard Becker once wrote that “Some art activities do not operate in a money economy. Instead, a central government agency may allocate recourses for art projects.” According to Becker, with the creation of “culture industries”, organizations with profit motives have successfully latched on forms of arts with commercial value. He also said that their dominance needs to be stopped by the federal government to ensure equitable opportunities among artists.
The earliest patronage of the arts dated before the First World War with the formation of the Commonwealth Literary Fund in 1908 and the Commonwealth Arts Advisory Board in 1912. However, an official committee to cultural and arts funding began with the formation of the ABC in 1932. The ABC broadcasted mainly music performed by its own orchestras. Eventually the primary focus on such funding was solely on music, opera and ballet as it was deemed fitting for high cultural aspiration of the federal government. Media became a