Imagine 2035: Towards an arts and culture system that delivers for all Australians

For the first time in our modern democracy, a robust arts and culture system that delivers for all Australians is within our reach.

ANA’s landmark Position Paper, Imagine 2035, outlines the two practical actions that governments can take now to secure Australia’s place as a cultural powerhouse by 2035.

The first is to develop a new National Arts and Culture Strategy modelled on the National Sport Strategy, Sport Horizon. The Position Paper includes a draft Strategy-on-a-Page illustrating the principles, outcomes and measurements this strategy could adopt.

It also identifies six priority agenda items for consideration by a proposed new Ministerial Council focused on cultural access and creative industries. This would facilitate enduring cooperation between governments and effective collaboration with industry, business and philanthropy.

Securing Australia’s place as a cultural powerhouse will take purposeful public policy action that works hand in hand with sustained industry effort.

This opportunity matters because culture and creativity is a proven method for connecting people and communities, supporting civic engagement and democratic participation, and strengthening local and national economies. 

But sticking with the status quo is a lost opportunity. Australia does not currently have an:

1. Agreed national vision, principles, outcomes and measurements for long-term strategic cooperation and collaboration on cultural access and creative industries
2. Enduring intergovernmental forum for structural reform, including resolving priorities, making decisions and coordinating action on culture and creativity

With an agreed national vision, principles, outcomes and measurements alongside an enduring intergovernmental forum, we can reset Australia’s cultural policy environment, for good.

The two actions to take now

ACTION 1

Develop a 10-year National Arts and Culture Strategy, modelled on the National Sport Strategy.

A practical approach to action, like a plan or strategy, was a recommendation of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Australia’s Creative and Cultural Industries and Institutions in 2021. A National Arts and Culture Strategy would outline a national framework for collaboration that complements – not replaces – existing cultural policies. Its vision, principles and outcomes would be negotiated and agreed between federal, state and territory governments, in discussion with local government representatives. A National Arts and Culture Strategy would align governments efforts without limiting their independence.

ACTION 2

Establish a Ministerial Council reporting to National Cabinet focused on cultural access and the cultural and creative industries.

A Ministerial Council will ensure Australia has a formal channel for working collaboratively on structural reform, resolving priorities, making decisions and coordinating action on culture and creativity. Reporting to National Cabinet, the Ministerial Council would progress critical regulatory and statutory issues and have oversight of the development and review of the National Arts and Culture Strategy. 

What will these two actions achieve?

A multi-partisan, multi-government and outcomes-focused approach to cultural policy would achieve positive outcomes for all Australians. Across our arts and culture system:

• People and communities could more equitably access cultural and creative experiences and activities.
• Governments could more effectively apply their strengths and allocate their resources 
• Cultural and creative industries could take calculated risks and plan with certainty 
• Sponsors and donors could innovatively partner with individuals, organisations and institutions.

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