The Federal Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, has released Australia’s first national Cultural Policy in almost a decade and it’s worth a read.
It’s built around five “pillars”, namely First Nations First; A Place for Every Story; Centrality of the Artist; Strong Cultural Infrastructure; and Engaging the Audience.
An intriguing item that will affect us is the promise of an increase in the Regional Arts Fund. Another is a plan to improve the workplaces for artists across the country. Another is funding for arts and music therapy programs.
You can download the policy and have a read for yourself: National Cultural Policy – Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place
Image: Arts Minister Tony Burke speaking at the Woodford Folk Festival a month ago about the need for a cultural plan. Courtesy John O’Brien.