Creative Communities is an expansive policy that recognises the unique place of arts, culture and the creative industries in New South Wales, the state with the largest cultural and creative workforce, the oldest and most distinctive cultural institutions, and the most diverse population.

It is an inclusive ten-year policy that supports artists, creatives and cultural organisations and importantly, expands to include for the first time, the rapidly growing creative industries.

Creative Communities reaches across government and promises over time to touch as many lives as possible and embrace the full diversity of NSW. It commits to a whole-of-government approach to advocate for, invest in and enable the creative and cultural ecosystem across the state to realise its potential. It recognises that the work produced by artists and creatives, as sole traders and those in community and professional settings, is essential to the wellbeing of all, and that they deserve respect and support. It considers culture as a public good and the right to participate in arts, cultural and creative activities a fundamental human right.

It complements Revive, the national cultural policy, and shares its commitment to prioritise First Nations’ culture and take our multi-faceted stories and creativity to the world. It supports achieving sustainable growth. It accepts the responsibility to advocate for the value of culture to build capacity, creativity and community cohesion.

Creative Communities is grounded in five guiding principles:

1. Prioritise First Nations culture
2. Embrace the arts, culture and creative industries
3. Advocate for the value of culture
4. Support sustainable growth
5. Take our creativity to the world and bring the world to our stories

Built on the core objectives of People, Infrastructure and Audiences, the policy embeds arts, culture and creative industries in our communities and provides opportunities for all to thrive. The principles and key objectives are detailed in full in the policy.

Creative Communities will ensure that over the next decade, the arts, culture and creative industries will flourish and continue to enhance the lives of the people of NSW.