The Mornington Peninsula’s creative sector is in uproar after Mornington Peninsula Shire Council voted to eliminate $480,000 in targeted arts grants—scrapping two key funding streams without community consultation.
Max Johnson, co-founder of Barnacle Studios and former chair of the Shire’s Arts and Culture Advisory Panel, has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the cuts, warning they threaten the future of the region’s cultural ecosystem.
“It’s this fledgling economy and young makers… who need that support to get up and running,” Johnson told STPL News. “That’s where the effect is going to be felt the most.”
The Council’s decision, which removed both the Performing Arts Development Fund and the Creative Fund, has sparked growing public backlash. Protesters have rallied outside the last two council meetings, and a petition under the #SaveTheArtsMP campaign has attracted more than 2,600 signatures.
No Mechanism for Consultation
Johnson said the timing of the decision was particularly troubling, occurring while no arts advisory panel was in place to represent the sector.
“Council disbanded the Arts and Culture Advisory Panel in November and hasn’t appointed a new one,” he said. “This change to the budget has happened when there is no mechanism in place to effectively consult the creative community.”
Council maintains that arts support still exists within a broader pool of event and sponsorship funding. But Johnson says that pool is significantly more competitive and less accessible to small grassroots groups and independent artists.
“They’re saying the money is still there, but it’s gone into a much more competitive pool,” he said. “It’s far less likely that grassroots projects will now receive the funding they need.”
Mayor’s Public Remarks Knocked-back
The debate escalated after Mayor Anthony Marsh publicly responded to one of Johnson’s LinkedIn posts. In the comment, Marsh described Johnson’s narrative as “fascinating” and referenced a $50,000 Council sponsorship previously received by Barnacle Studios as part of a separate community activation fund.
“You have been a direct beneficiary of our sponsorship funding,” Marsh wrote, while also stating that Council will invest $4.1 million in arts and culture in the upcoming budget.
Johnson criticised the Mayor’s comment as an attempt to discredit him personally rather than address the substance of the concerns.
“It’s not about my business. It’s about a sector that’s been cut off at the heels without consultation,” he said. “For the Mayor to come at me on a professional platform like LinkedIn, that feels like a deflection of responsibility.”
He also said Mayor Marsh has refused to engage with him directly, labelling his advocacy “disrespectful” in internal emails and blocking him from Facebook after he raised concerns there.
“Only Marsh, Pingiaro, Gill and Patton have replied,” he said. “There’s been no willingness to engage in dialogue.”
Protest to Continue as Final Budget Nears
Johnson confirmed that he and others from the arts community will return to the next Council meeting in the hope of securing an amendment before the budget is finalised.
“It’s not an angry protest — it’s a show of strength and concern,” he said. “We hope one or a few councillors might be brave enough to admit a misstep and act before the funding disappears completely.”
While some have speculated that a political bloc within Council may be driving the decision, Johnson declined to speculate on internal dynamics.
“I’m not in the room, so I can’t say for sure,” he said. “But the lack of dialogue speaks volumes.”
What Comes Next
As frustration builds, artists and advocates are calling not just for restored funding, but for a more transparent and strategic commitment to the region’s cultural future.
“We keep hearing that Council supports the arts,” Johnson said. “But there’s no structure in place to show what that looks like moving forward.”
The final Council budget is expected to be voted on this month. Creative groups are urging councillors to reconsider the cuts before it’s too late.
IF YOU HAVE HAD FAIR SUPPORT IN THE PAST MAYBE, JUST MAYBE YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU GOT AND AND ACCEPT CHANGE IN THESE TIMES
Hi Alan.
Perhaps you don’t understand that the MPSC are not funding ANY Artists as it stands. I look forward to a better outcome for us artistic types.