27/05/2025
We, the student run organisation of Fawkes Theatre company, wish to express our objection, frustration and firm opposition to the proposed cuts being made to the University of Tasmania’s departments of the Arts and Humanities. The theatre program has for years now already been buckling under the stress of dwindling funding and support from the university and their proposed plan to cut one of the three remaining teaching staff from this faculty threatens to send the course into an irreversible death spiral.
These three staff, Davina, Jane and Asher, despite the challenges of time, resources, budget and beyond have tirelessly and dutifully given their absolute all in providing us and many other arts students the best education they can possibly give. They have consistently gone above and beyond their call of duty and responsibility, affording us with as much opportunity to learn and grow our own individual practices and trades as performers and artists.
Despite what many may think, theatre, performance and acting are physical trades and practices. You cannot be expected to learn how to perform in zoom classes and in bare bones online tutorials. There must be dedicated time, space and resources for theatre students to achieve and develop their skills. Currently, the Annexe Theatre in Launceston seems a shell of what it has been and what it could be again.
The arts are consistently the first casualty when it comes to budget cuts and so called ‘fat trimming’ but we’d be willing to wager that everyone, despite their race, gender, sexuality, background or social status, values or has relied on the arts in some way. Not only is that on a global scale but in reference to our own state of Tasmania. We take great pride in our arts museums and festivals that are famous the world over like MONA, QVMAG, DARK M**O, The Australian Musical Theatre Festival, Junction arts festival and many others that put our great state on the map. These events not only bring artistic prestige but also valuable tourism opportunities to our state. What chance do emerging local artists have to engage with these institutions and events if they are cut off at the knees here in their very own state?
With growing interest and expansion in not only theatre, but the arts and film in Tasmania, it seems foolish to cut staff and destroy access to the valuable resource and support they represent.
Comprised of students from different disciplines, Fawkes believes that studying or participating in the arts is not just about a career, it is about transferrable skills, passion and following interest. Many students from other disciplines join us in performance-based electives to improve public speaking skills and social confidence skills.
It seems a constant shame to hear from many prospective students “What’s the point of studying theatre and performance in Tasmania? It’s not like it will lead to anything.” With this saddening pre-conception already being a hindrance, we can scarcely think of the impact that cutting more resources will have on public perception of what the University has to offer. There are some people that don’t even realise that Theatre and Performance are even an option to study at UTAS and so begs the question; What has the University done to encourage, advertise and incentivise enrolment rather than looking at the enrolment numbers and using it to justify taking a butcher’s cleaver to the program?
We believe whole-heartedly that art in whatever format, is not only a valid field of study, but a fundamentally essential one. Once again, as a student body, inspired by our teachers to come together and utilise the tools and creative voices they have so passionately fostered within us, we can do nothing but use our voices to condemn this horrendous and destructive decision and stand in solidarity with the other Arts and Humanities disciplines set to be cut down by this proposal. If you give up on the Arts and Humanities, you prove to the next generation of Tasmanian’s that there is no hope left here.
Yours
A theatre company comprised of defiantly passionate and stubbornly hopeful current students and future creatives.
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