Our recommendations for the 2025-26 Budget are targeted at helping Australia secure its place as a cultural powerhouse. With a national focus on cultural policy-making and the approaching Brisbane Games, Australia has once-in-a-generation opportunity for its jurisdictions to work in concert to unlock the benefits of arts and culture for all Australians.
Recommendation 1: An intergovernmental plan for arts and culture
Modelled on the new National Sport Strategy, this plan would set a collective vision and shared priorities for federal, state, territory and local jurisdictions to pursue with cultural and creative industries.
Currently, fragmented government policies and funding result in missed opportunities to maximise returns on investments in arts and culture, while also hampering the industry’s investment in its own success.
Recommendation 2: A secretariat for Cultural Ministers to meet regularly
Meeting twice a year would allow them to progress urgent priorities in arts and culture that require action from all levels of government.
Recommendation 3: Explore options for an international cultural
relations institution
ANA’s focus group research shows that everyday Australians care about the overseas perception and reputation of our arts and culture. But our cultural relations activities are currently fragmented across many agencies.
Unlike almost all other major world economies, we lack an international cultural relations institution to focus these efforts. It would deepen cultural ties with our overseas partners, bolster our cultural reputation and expand our creative industry exports.