The Australia Council for the Arts welcomes the National Cultural Policy, which sets out the Australian Government’s vision for the future of arts and creativity and a modernised Australia Council.
Australia Council CEO Adrian Collette AM said the policy was a transformational step in the evolution of the Australia Council.
“Creative Australia will be an even bigger, bolder champion and investor in Australian arts and creativity.
The National Cultural Policy provides recognition of the real value of the arts and creative industries – generating employment, skills, a stronger economy, and supporting the education, health and wellbeing of Australians.
We welcome the commitment to dedicated investment, through initiatives supporting First Nations, Music Australia, Writers Australia and the works of scale fund.
Creative industries are powered by creative workers. We welcome the commitment to establishing the Centre for Arts and Entertainment Workplaces, recognising that artists are workers and the need to ensure they are working within safe environments and under equitable conditions.
Additionally, the return of investment to the Australia Council will enable us to effectively support the sector through our existing programs to deliver greater impact in areas including youth and community arts.
As we transform to become Creative Australia, we will forge even stronger connections with the public, private and commercial sectors. This will enable us to connect Australian stories with audiences and build the marketplace for those stories to be shared on a national and international scale, enhancing our reputation, and bringing our rich culture to the world.”
Led by the principle of First Nations first, the policy includes a commitment that a dedicated First Nations-led Board will be formed within Creative Australia.
Australia Council Executive Director First Nations Arts and Culture Franchesca Cubillo said this was an important step in ensuring self-determination and strengthening First Nations arts and culture.
“As we mark the 50-year anniversary of targeted investment in First Nations arts through the Australia Council, we welcome this important commitment to self-determination as the next step to build on the success of First Nations arts and culture.
Creativity connects us. Ultimately, our vision is for every voice to find its place, reflecting the rich and evolving diversity of Australia, informed by our history, as we grow and foster the next generation of storytellers.”
Pillars and principles
Revive is structured around five interconnected pillars which set out the Government’s strategic objectives.
Pillars
Revive is structured around five interconnected pillars which set out the Government’s strategic objectives:
First Nations First: Recognising and respecting the crucial place of First Nations stories at the centre of Australia’s arts and culture.
A Place for Every Story: Reflecting the breadth of our stories and the contribution of all Australians as the creators of culture.
Centrality of the Artist: Supporting the artist as worker and celebrating artists as creators.
Strong Cultural Infrastructure: Providing support across the spectrum of institutions which sustain our arts, culture and heritage.
Engaging the Audience: Making sure our stories connect with people at home and abroad.
Principles
Sitting across these pillars are ten principles that guide the Government’s actions and investments over the next five years:
First Nations arts and culture are First Nations led.
All Australians, regardless of language, literacy, geography, age or education, have the opportunity to access and participate in arts and culture.
Artists and arts workers have career structures that are long-term and sustainable, supported by vocational pathways.
Australian students have the opportunity to receive an education that includes culture, creativity, humanities and the arts.
Creative talent is nurtured through fair remuneration, industry standards and safe and inclusive work cultures.
Arts and cultural organisations have representation and leadership that is reflective of contemporary Australia.
Cultural infrastructure, including galleries, libraries, museums, archives and digital collections, is restored, built and maintained.
Australian stories are seen and heard, regardless of platform.
Creative industries and practice are future focused, technology enabled, networked and globally recognised, including through reciprocal exchange, export and cultural diplomacy.
Arts and culture are generative (creating new works and supporting emerging artists) and preservative (protecting heritage and conserving cultural memory).
Key measures
The centrepiece of Revive is the establishment of Creative Australia, which will restore and modernise the Australia Council for the Arts.
With an additional $199 million in funding over 4 years from 2023-24, Creative Australia will provide greater strategic oversight and engagement across the sector.
Within Creative Australia, a dedicated First Nations-led Board will be formed. This is critical to self-determination, supporting the telling of First Nations histories and stories, and to strengthening the capacity of First Nations creative workers.
Recognising creative sector workers as vital contributors to our national culture and economy, Revive will establish a Centre for Arts and Entertainment Workplaces within Creative Australia. It will provide advice on issues of pay, safety, codes of conduct and welfare across the sector.
Creative Australia will also establish Music Australia, to support the Australian music industry to grow, including through strategic initiatives and industry partnerships, research, skills development and export promotion.
Writers Australia will also be established within Creative Australia, to provide direct support to the literature sector from 2025, including for writers and publishers, to grow local and international audiences for Australian books and establish a National Poet Laureate for Australia.
Other key measures within Revive include:
Sharing the national collection by establishing a program of long-term loans of works form the National Gallery of Australia’s collection to regional and suburban cultural institutions across Australia
Introducing stand-alone legislation to protect First Nations knowledge and cultural expressions, including to address the harm caused by fake art, merchandise and souvenirs.
Establishing a First Nations Languages Policy Partnership between first Nations representatives and Australian governments to improve outcomes for First Nations peoples
Enhancing the Resale Royalty Scheme to provide royalty payments to visual artists, including First Nations artists, from the commercial sale of eligible works internationally.
Developing an Arts and Disability Associated Plan, under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31, to enable people with disability to access and participate fully in the cultural and creative life of Australia.
Increasing support for regional arts and culture through an increase to Regional Arts Fund.
Supporting specialist in-school arts education programs that directly draw from cultural and creative sector expertise, focusing on areas of identified disadvantage.
Modernising and extending the Public and Educational Lending Right Schemes to include digital content under the schemes.
Providing pilot funding to support access to art and music therapy programs, and generate valuable data on the broader community impacts of, and demand for these services.
Information materials
National Cultural Policy – Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place
Plain English policy document—coming soon
Livestream video of announcement event—coming soon
Further information is available on our Publications page.
Advisory bodies to inform the development of the policy
Five expert Review Panels were appointed for each policy pillar and responsible for identifying key issues and themes raised through the consultation process, including through the review of public submissions.
The Policy Advisory Group reviewed advice from each of the five expert Review Panels, and provided overarching strategic advice to inform the development of the National Cultural Policy.
