Arts and culture made evident

Australia can become a cultural powerhouse whose creativity is locally loved, nationally valued and globally influential.

Making this vision real is at the heart of everything we do.

A New Approach (ANA) is Australia’s national arts and culture think tank. Through independent public leadership, ANA helps build an ambitious and innovative policy, legislative, regulatory and investment environment for Australia’s arts, culture and creativity.

We do this because the evidence shows that culture and creativity have a direct, transformative impact on people and communities. Arts and culture strengthens our economies, connects our communities and helps us to lead healthy, safe and sustainable lives.

We believe it is possible to create an arts and culture system that delivers for all Australians and that our nation can become a cultural powerhouse whose creativity is locally loved, nationally valued and globally influential. 

ANA was founded in 2018 and is made possible by a collaboration of Philanthropic Partners. Our work is guided by our Board of Directors,  chaired by Rupert Myer AO, and supported by our Reference Group and staff. In 2021, we became an Australian Public Company Limited By Guarantee and a registered Charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC).

ANA acknowledges the cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia and their continuing cultural and creative practices in this land. Australia’s culture has been uniquely shaped by First Nations peoples, by the generations of people born here, and by those from all around the world who have made this place their home. These perspectives can shape a cultural life that emboldens all of us. This aspiration informs the values that guide our work:

We work towards our vision for Australia to become a cultural powerhouse by:

• Demonstrating the role arts, culture and creativity play in the lives of Australians
• Charting pathways to grow ambitious cultural and creative industries
• Championing bold public policy settings for arts, culture and creativity
• Propelling Australia’s cultural thought leadership internationally

Over the last seven years, we have developed an evidence base which has provided a foundation for understanding arts and culture in Australia. This foundation has allowed us to analyse, understand and recommend solutions to some of the most pressing policy challenges facing our nation today.

Our research program helps to chart new pathways for policy, regulatory and legislative reform. Innovative at its core, it also works to propel Australia’s cultural thought leadership at the local, regional, national and international levels.

Our policy program reaches across the arts, culture and creative industry policies at national, state, territory and local government levels. It also extends beyond cultural policy, into social and economic policy, to reflect the direct, positive impact arts and culture has on cohesion, health, sustainability, prosperity and security.

We have a national focus with a global outlook. Our engagement program is designed to promote an inclusive, contemporary conversation about Australian arts and culture.

We believe Australia has a maturing cultural and creative confidence which we can all benefit from, and we invite you to share in our vision.