This article by Marcus Westbury was printed in The Age on August 2. 

THE perception at election time is that politicians can get ahead only by rolling out the pork barrel and spending up big. But while we'd all love more money for the arts, there are a lot of things that could make us all culturally richer for not much more than the cost of political will, taking the lead, changing some rules and tweaking a few settings.

So, in the spirit of trying to get some actual ideas into the vacuum that is this election campaign, I've knocked up a list of suggestions for pollies wanting to do - or be seen to be doing - something useful on the cheap.

1. An empty spaces program

To celebrate Mari Funaki: Objects currently showing for free at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, the NGV have 1 exhibition publication to giveaway. Email your postal address to promotions@ngv.vic.gov.au with FORM in the subject line to win. More information about the exhibition here.

Image: Mari Funaki Object 2010. Collection of the Estate of Mari Funaki, Melbourne. © The Estate of Mari Funaki

Submissions for the 2010 Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards are now open!

Designers aged 30 and under across seven creative fields are invited to submit their work for a chance to receive $5000 of financial support, $5000 in Qantas flights as well as a rare 12 month mentorship opportunity with creative leaders including Marc Newson, Zimmermann, Deanne Cheuk, Jan Chapman and Liz Ann Macgregor.

Categories include:

• fashion
• film and animation
• industrial and object design
• music
• photography
• visual arts
• visual communication

Submissions are due on the 9th August, for further information please go to www.soya.com.au .