Spending on arts and cultural activities lags, with state and territory investment outpacing federal expenditure for the first time

New analysis from ANA shows that while total investment across all three levels of government in arts and cultural activities in Australia reached a record $8.6 billion in 2023–24, spending on arts and culture is not keeping pace with population growth or our OECD peers. There has also been a significant shift in the funding landscape, with state and territory expenditure outpacing federal government investment for the first time.

ANA’s latest update of The Big Picture: Expenditure on Artistic, Cultural and Creative Activity by governments in Australia in 2007–08 to 2023–24 shows combined state and territory investment reached 39% of the total spend in 2023–24, while federal investment fell to 36%.

Other key findings of the interactive report indicate that:

• In 2023–24, 18% of the overall arts and culture investment was allocated to capital expenditure, compared with 11% in 2009.
• Australia’s population increased by 27% between 2007–08 and 2023–24, while cultural expenditure over that time only increased by 19%.
• In 2023–24, federal per capita expenditure was $114, the lowest on record. In contrast, state and territory per capita expenditure at $123 was at its highest.
• On a GDP basis, Australia ranked 25th out of 31 OECD countries for its expenditure on ‘recreation, culture and religion’.

ANA notes that some recent state budget papers suggest decreased investment compared with the 2023–24 financial year (the latest data available), resulting in financial pressures across the arts, culture and creativity system.

ANA Chair Rupert Myer AO said: “We believe governments at all levels should work together to make the most of their collective cultural investment and develop a long-term approach to cultural policy that is multi-partisan and multi-government. We need a unifying goal for the entire arts, culture and creativity system.”

The Big Picture findings support ANA’s call for strategic and collaborative policy action to help ensure a diversity of creative and cultural activity is available for Australians in every postcode. Mr Myer highlighted that the consultation for, and delivery of, the next National Cultural Policy provides an opportunity for governments to work better together to ensure that investment in arts and cultural activities is optimised for the benefit of all Australians.

“Now is the time to capitalise on good work already done, seize opportunities and enhance our future competitiveness. Sticking with the status quo is a lost opportunity to deliver the most effective and efficient investment in arts and culture; investment that helps connect communities, foster belonging and drive resilient, productive economies,” he said.

“If we don’t improve how governments, industry, philanthropy and business work together, Australians’ access to cultural and creative opportunities will be adversely affected by a failure to get optimal value for investment.”

Mr Myer added: “We encourage people and organisations to explore The Big Picture and use this data for their submissions to the National Cultural Policy consultation.”

ANA also believes that governments should improve data collection and analysis to support new or improved cross-jurisdictional and cross-portfolio ways of working and enable confident decision-making.

The Big Picture analysis supports the results of the previously published ANA Position Paper Imagine 2035, which shows that a robust arts and culture system that delivers for all Australians is within our reach should we have an agreed national vision, framework and principles for long-term strategic collaboration.

Background and context

The Big Picture analyses the Cultural Funding by Government survey data to identify long-term trends in government expenditure on arts and culture in Australia. The data captures spending on cultural and creative individuals, organisations and activities of all scale in metropolitan, regional and remote Australia from 2007–08 to the most recent update, 2023–24.

The Big Picture helps to inform evidence-based decision-making and contribute to building a robust arts and culture system that delivers for all Australians. Its aim is to identify strategic and structural opportunities for change.