The Big Picture: Public Expenditure on Artistic, Cultural and Creative Activity in Australia

A new report released on 10 September by independent think tank, A New Approach (ANA), shows local governments are seeing the value of arts and culture in their communities, and are responding by stepping up their financial commitment and playing a bigger role in government support for arts and culture. 

The report, The Big Picture: Public Expenditure on Artistic, Cultural and Creative Activity in Australia, is a comprehensive snapshot of our federal, state and local governments’ financial commitment to arts and culture since 2007. Together, Australia’s governments commit close to $7 billion to arts and culture each year, or one percent of their total combined expenditure.

With responsibility for public funding of arts and culture now split fairly evenly between federal, state, territory and local governments, the report points to the opportunity for stronger, more strategic collaboration, and clearer definition of the respective responsibilities for arts and culture at the different levels of government.

As part of an ambitious research agenda, this report is the first in a series planned by ANA which look at the benefits and impact of investment in arts and culture. ANA aims to foster a more robust discussion about cultural policies in Australia, underpinned by sound data and through a non-partisan and independent approach.