Building on submissions received during the first round of consultations under former Arts Minister Peter Garrett, a new National Cultural Policy discussion paper was released August 11 for public consultation.

While much of the discussion in the arts sector revolves around the four goals nominated in the paper, two other developments are of particular note. Firstly, the development of the National Cultural Policy will now sit under a senior Minister within the Office of the Arts under Prime Minister and Cabinet – a move that arguably adds considerable weight and profile to the Policy. The Policy will aim to represent an approach across government and “bring the arts and creative industries into the mainstream of Australian life.” Secondly, the strong presence of Creative Industries, largely absent in the previous discussion paper, likewise suggests a significant shift in thinking.

The presence of the Creative Industries model reflects the wider international trend in arts and cultural policy. While the model has met with criticism in some quarters, the approach to Creative Industries has evolved from its inception by the Greater London Council in the early 1990s and has been adopted and adapted by many countries and organisations including UNESCO.

While there has been much debate around the scope of the Creative Industries, notably the National Cultural Policy Discussion Paper sanctions the traditional arts disciplines or “Core Arts” from the “Creative Industries”, and further from “Cultural Heritage”, although it is proposed that the policy will relate to all three.

This structure is different again from that of Art-Media-Design proposed by the Australia Council through Justin O'Connor’s Arts and Creative Industries. While it is not clear through reading the remainder of the discussion paper whether the definitions will serve a particular function, it could to some degree dispel concern from the arts sector that their work under a Creative Industries model will overly emphasise economic over social value.

Of note, the Discussion Paper also flags a new Creative Industries Strategy to sit separately from the National Cultural Policy under Senator Kim Carr – the relationship between this new strategy and the National Cultural Policy may be key. The discussion paper also serves to announce a review into the Major Performing Arts Sector.

The consultation will close 21 October. AICV is currently working on a submission, if members would like to have input, please contact us.

To visit the Office of the Arts website and view more information on the National Cultural Policy please click here.