In a fiscally challenging environment, data indicates that governments should pursue strategic and structural change to maximise government investment in Australia’s arts and culture system. On a GDP basis, Australia is spending around one-quarter less than its OECD peers on ‘recreation, culture and religion’. This paper identifies actions and big picture opportunities.

This report explains the system that delivers arts and cultural experiences in Australia, from broad and grassroots through to specialised and professional. It demonstrates how the arts and culture system is organised, governed and developed. The report also highlights how cultural literacy and creative skills building occur across the population.

This position paper outlines two practical actions that governments can take now to secure Australia’s place as a cultural powerhouse by 2035. The first is to develop a new 10-year national arts and culture strategy. The second is to establish a Ministerial Council on cultural access and the cultural and creative industries.

This report showcases practical actions governments can take, beyond direct cultural funding, to support cultural access and strengthen creative industries. The report identifies eight ‘pro-culture’ enablers – uniquely available to governments – to make it easier for creators to work, creative businesses to operate, and consumers to access experiences and products.

This report brings together the results of an investigation into how best to measure social and cultural infrastructure. It develops a framework for measuring the assets, facilities and spaces that make up shared social and cultural infrastructure, and considers its practical applications for a range of organisations.