2021–22 Pre-Budget Submission
Resources
Arts, culture and creativity can help keep our economy strong, people in jobs and Australians together.
The issue: Australians are missing out on opportunities for social cohesion, jobs and economic growth
The current Parliamentary Inquiry into Creative and Cultural Industries and Institutions has heard evidence that:
- In 2016, the total cultural and creative workforce was 868,098 people, or 8.1% of the total Australian workforce.
- Middle Australians think imagination, belonging and inspiration all grow out of engagement with arts, culture and creativity. Every year more than 80% of Australians attend at least one arts and cultural event or venue.
- The cultural and creative economy was estimated to contribute $111.7 billion to the Australian economy in 2016–17 (6.4% of GDP).
- Like hospitality and tourism, cultural and creative industries have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Australia is yet to strategically capitalise on the social and economic contributions of cultural and creative industries and occupations.
The solution: Targeted investment; a plan to ensure opportunities and contemporary approach to industry development, jobs and innovation
Bringing people together; creating jobs; contributing to Australia’s domestic and international tourism offerings; telling Australia’s stories to the world and growing the creative skills that underpin Australian ingenuity are just some of the contributions made by our cultural and creative industries.
As Australia faces some of the most significant economic and social challenges since the Great Depression, there is an increased urgency to harness these benefits. Australia needs to take deliberate action, building on the existing successes and supporting those that are weathering the worst of the Covid-19 storm, so they can play their part in assisting Australia’s recovery.
For the full submission text, download the PDF.