Arts sector laments loss of 'powerful advocate' FORMER arts minister Simon Crean's removal to the backbenches -- a week after launching his long-awaited national cultural policy -- has disappointed key arts figures, who say they have lost a powerful advocate. Mr Crean was handed the arts portfolio by Julia Gillard after the 2010 federal election, with the intention of bringing forth Labor's promised cultural policy. Ms Gillard sacked Mr Crean after he called a leadership spill yesterday. Queensland University of Technology academic Stuart Cunningham, a member of Mr Crean's policy reference group, said the loss of the former Labor leader from the arts portfolio was "unfortunate and untimely" from a policy point of view. "The cultural policy may have lost its most able advocate," Professor Cunningham said. The way he put the policy together was a case study in effective consultation across ministries and the (arts) sector. Australian Major Performing Arts Group chief executive Bethwyn Serow said "no one would question" Mr Crean's advocacy for the arts. "He has worked very hard as an arts minister and worked solidly in his consultation process to listen to the industry and the community," said Ms Serow, whose organisation represents 28 arts companies, including Opera Australia and the Australian Ballet. She said AMPAG would be seeking clarity from government about the future of the cultural policy. Professor Cunningham said the policy was "still deliverable" because it depended little on legislation, apart from a new bill to reform the Australia Council for the Arts, which Mr Crean introduced on Wednesday.