Funding doxer is a stain on Creative Australia

One of the most troubling schisms that occurred in the aftermath of October 7 was the response of the creative communities. Weeks of silence from many arts organisations and muted condemnation of Hamas at best. Jewish artists, writers and others felt a cold shoulder from their communities and many joined a Whatsapp support group.

The hostility reached a nadir early last year with death threats against Jewish artists, loss of livelihood and the doxing of some 600 members of the Whatsapp group, which became an international news story.

Although government arts agencies were not directly involved in any of the above, the main funding body, Creative Australia (CA), has played a role in supporting one of the most virulent public campaigners against Israel and Jews within the Australian arts community.

His name is Matt Chun, real name Matthew Jones. Chun is a NSW-based illustrator and author of children’s books. He was also one of the leaders of the doxing campaign and has a prominent history of anti-Zionist advocacy. Of course, he is entitled to hold these views in a country such as ours. But should he be rewarded with public funding of his arts projects?

In May 2023, Jones and his artistic collaborator Amy McQuire received a grant of $42,452 from Creative Australia (formerly the Australia Council for the Arts) to produce a picture book titled Policing In Australia, to be published by August this year.

Last month the Australian disclosed the awarding of the grant by Creative Australia (CA) in response to a question on notice in a Senate estimates hearing. The project description provided by CA said the book “will deepen Matt and Amy’s proven collaborative partnership, which led to the creation of the successful, 2022 Australian Book Industry Awards shortlisted children’s picture book Day Break,” the Australian reported.