30 November 2022 

Address immediate skills and training shortages by upskilling and maximising the potential inherent in the creative workforce. Invest in creative education in schools, universities and whole-of-life learning contexts in order to equip the workforce with 21st century skills. Establish clear industrial settings and regulation to improve the sustainability of the industry, and ensure the industry is competitive in the current and future labour market. Consider flexible work arrangements for creatives working in contract-to-contract environments, as well as an entitlement to superannuation payments and Portable Long Service Leave. 

Australia Council submission – Employment White Paper consultation 

August 2022 

There is a need for core cultural and creative industries data, delivered on a consistent basis, annually where possible. Core industry data collections would be of benefit to many stakeholders, including cultural industry organisations, government agencies at all levels, arts policy makers and artists. There is a need to update the framework for the Cultural and Creative Satellite Accounts, particularly the volunteering and non-market outputs components. Knowledge gaps remain around the substantial number of Australians generating economic activity through cultural and creative roles as secondary jobs and unpaid work. There is need for a centralised hub for coordinating, drawing together and providing access to and guidance on the various data sets from the ABS and other sources. 

Australia Council joint submission – Cultural Data Needs to the National Cultural Policy 

August 2022 

Establish clear industrial settings and regulation to improve the sustainability of the industry, and ensure the industry is competitive in the current and future labour market. Work with industry and education providers to audit the skills and education needs of the creative sector, building on existing Australia Council research. Support the Australia Council for the Arts to convene a working group with government, educational institutions and industry to address skills and infrastructure pressure points and to develop a national framework to support creative skills and workforce growth. Support the Australia Council for the Arts to work with key portfolio agencies to promote cross-portfolio collaboration and strategic partnership and investment opportunities to drive job creation and economic value and inspire innovation across sectors. 

Australia Council joint submission – Creative Skills to the National Cultural Policy 

July 2022 

Support thriving and self-determined First Nations creative ecosystems. Create opportunities for all Australians to participate in and contribute to arts and culture. Support skilled, diverse ecologies of artists and organisations. Strengthen the capacity of the creative sector to deliver benefits to Australians. Build sustainable, networked and globally recognised creative industries. 

Australia Council Submission – National Culture Plan Consultation Framing  

December 2021 

Address significant knowledge gaps regarding the scale and scope, both domestically and internationally, of markets for First Nations visual arts and crafts. This includes quantifying the total economic and export value of First Nations visual arts, the scale of the souvenir market and the impact of inauthentic activity, and markets related to design, textiles and fashion. The Australia Council recommends the Productivity Commission consider an updated mapping of the supply chain of the sale and resale of artworks from First Nations artists. Address skills gaps and funding deficiencies with strategic whole-of-sector responses to building skills, careers and pathways to employment for First Nations people. 

Australia Council submission – Productivity Commission Inquiry: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Visual Arts and Crafts 

April 2021 

Leverage the Australia Council’s mental health and wellbeing summit to identify opportunities for arts and creativity in mental health and suicide prevention strategies. Invest in targeted arts and cultural activities that connect communities, support resilience and directly address mental health challenges. Trial arts and cultural activities on prescription, which is providing a strong return on investment in the UK. Integrate arts and creativity within a whole of government approach to mental health and wellbeing and recovery from the pandemic. 

Australia Council Submission – Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Inquiry 

October 2020 

Invest in digital capacity building to drive innovation in cultural and creative business models and support increased online delivery and engagement, while safeguarding artists’ rights and income. Enhance collaboration across levels of government (including state and local, particularly in regional and remote areas) through specific initiatives. Re-energise our international brand and export growth through leveraging Australia’s cultural and creative industries to develop and promote our national brand, support long-term export growth, maintain connections and Australia’s place in the world. 

Australia Council Submission – Creative and Cultural Industries Inquiry 

September 2020 

The Australia Council has a statutory role to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts practice and is committed to strengthening Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and cultural ecosystem. The Australia Council considers that the rights of individual artists should be respected, and it should be permissible for an artist to earn economic returns from their copyright. The Australia Council recommends the Committee consider options to address this issue as a matter of priority, including potential amendments to Australia’s intellectual property and consumer protection regimes, as well as consider buying the copyright of the Aboriginal flag from Mr Harold Thomas so that this flag can be promoted and used by all Australian First Nations peoples in commercial and non-commercial activities. 

Australia Council Submission – Senate Select Committee on the Aboriginal Flag 

June 2020 

The necessary measures adopted to protect Australians from the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in significant immediate and long-term challenges for Australia’s cultural and creative industries. On 31 March 2020 the Australia Council announced the suspension of many investment programs and repurposed all available uncommitted funds from this financial year to immediately respond to the COVID-19 crisis. The Resilience Fund was created to provide immediate relief to Australian artists, arts workers and arts organisations and support their livelihoods, practice and operations. The loss of work and income from international opportunities has been significant. 40% of applicants to the Resilience Fund have reported their work has been impacted by international travel restrictions. 

Australia Council Submission – Select Committee on COVID-19 inquiry into the Australian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic 

13 May 2020 

While JobKeeper will have a significant benefit, in its current form it will not support a large proportion of the creative workforce. This is due to the specific nature of the cultural and creative industries which are characterised by extremely high levels of casualisation and freelancing. JobSeeker also has limitations, including that ‘a loss of income’ can be hard to demonstrate. Because of the ongoing restrictions to public gatherings and travel, decreased consumer confidence and significant disruption to operations, resumption of business as usual for our creative workforce will be a matter of years, not months. As well as being hardest hit and first to fall, they will be the last to return. 

Australia Council briefing paper – JobKeeper and the cultural and creative industries 

April 2020 

There is an urgent need to ensure impacts of the virus on First Nations Elders are minimised to ensure ongoing cultural leadership, to maintain the arts as a key source of economic empowerment for First Nations people, and to ensure survival of the world’s longest continuously living culture. First Nations communities have a much greater reliance on income from arts and cultural activity, particularly in remote areas with art centres. That income is rapidly drying up. For First Nations musicians, the importance of community radio, NITV, SBS and the promotional opportunities the ABC provides for First Nations music cannot be overstated. The First Nations dance and theatre sectors are bracing for long-term impacts and will need long-term financial support. Financial constraints could mean programming is more conservative in future. 

Australia Council briefing paper – Impact of COVID-19 on First Nations arts and culture  

November 2019 

There is an opportunity for the fund to partner with the Australia Council to offer funding for community-led cultural apprenticeships and residencies in arts and culture enterprises or organisations that are working in the tourism sector. Investing in niche market opportunities and development of small businesses as well as large scale events in regional and remote Australia. Ensuring people are paid properly for supporting activities such as translation and interpreting, cross-cultural consulting. Measures within the fund to prevent the sale of fake Indigenous art products and to support and promote best practice and ethical trading, including working with the Indigenous Art Code. 

Australia Council response – NIAA Indigenous Tourism Fund discussion paper 

October 2019 

The arts have an increasingly powerful role to play in bridging social divides, and building empathy, social cohesion and the health of our civil society. There is enormous potential to harness our arts and culture to forge and promote a more inclusive cultural identity for Australia in these rapidly changing and divided times. Understanding and respecting First Nations cultures is essential to Australia’s social wellbeing and benefits both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Constructively addressing our past is vital for a coherent national identity – our artistic expressions are the vital bridge that mutual understanding. 

Australia Council submission – Nationhood, national identity and democracy submission 

March 2019 

There is strong and growing potential for a range of arts experiences to help drive regional tourism. International visitors who engage with the arts are also more likely to go beyond the east coast states. While the Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT attracted smaller numbers of total international tourists overall in 2017, a higher proportion were arts tourists compared to those who visited NSW, Victoria and Queensland. While tourism presents strong and growing opportunities, there are also serious issues with the exploitation of First Nations arts in the tourism industry. We need to celebrate and promote the uniqueness of First Nations culture as a strength without reinforcing historical inequities and stereotypes. 

Australia Council response – Austrade’s Beyond Tourism 2020 strategy consultation 

October 2018 

Integrate investment in Australian arts and culture within a whole of government approach to amplify our soft power and support Australia’s interests internationally, and particularly in our region. Australia’s soft power capabilities could be significantly increased through scaling up existing programs and strategies. The Australia Council recommends prioritising investment in First Nations arts and culture, including cultural tourism and developing an overarching partnership between government and industry that is focused on long term soft power development through arts and culture. 

Australia Council submission – DFAT Soft Power Review 

October 2018 

As it becomes increasingly difficult for artists to make a living from their creative work, intellectual property provisions, government funding and public and community broadcasters need to continue to be supported and prioritised, and the policy and regulatory settings around them need to keep pace with change. In line with the continuing growth of the sector, supporting infrastructure should not only be maintained but also expand to meet the increasing need. High levels of unfunded excellence – Australia Council music grant applications that would be funded if more funds were available – demonstrate the untapped potential for increased public investment and strategic partnerships and related opportunity cost. The social and economic returns on investing in arts and artists are enormous and cross government portfolios. 

Australia Council Submission – Standing Committee on Communication and the Arts Inquiry into the Australian music industry 

April 2018 

The Australia Council recommends that the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) targets investment in First Nations arts, culture and cultural maintenance outcomes as a strategic priority area within the Closing the Gap framework. The aims are to increase opportunities for First Nations people to directly engage in arts and cultural activity, and cultural maintenance and renewal. This requires outcome measures in the framework. Simultaneous recognition of Indigenous cultures as a foundation across the framework, with investment in culturally based programs to improve outcomes in early childhood, education, employment, health and wellbeing, community safety, justice and suicide prevention is needed. Additionally a flexible, localised community development approach will empower communities to utilise their cultural knowledge and build on their unique strengths, with prioritised funding for First Nations-led organisations and solutions that is sufficient for long-term planning. 

Australia Council Submission – Closing the Gap Refresh 

February 2018 

It is increasingly difficult for artists to make a living from their creative work. This is at odds with the increasing personal value Australians place on the arts, and the significant economic, social and cultural impact they have on communities. Artists have experience managing their working lives and professional practice, which is challenged, shaped and driven by technological change. Creative work is predominantly and increasingly undertaken on a freelance or self-employed basis (81% of artists, up from 72% in 2009), with artists blending creative, arts-related and non-arts work. Eight in ten artists are mixing their practice with other work within and outside the arts with some applying creative skills in other industries. This is creating opportunities for arts practice to take new and varied forms, helping shape the future of work and workers. Technological change is expanding opportunities for artists to create art in new ways and in diverse industries with many adapting and exploring new ways of working. 

Australia Council Submission – Select Committee on the future of work and workers 

November 2017 

The Australia Council has a statutory role to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts practice and is committed to strengthening Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and cultural ecosystem and increasing markets and audiences for First Nations arts and culture at home and abroad. The Australia Council considers that the proliferation of inauthentic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ‘style’ arts and craft products and merchandise comes at a significant cost to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, their communities and the broader Australian public. The Australia Council recommends the Committee consider options to address this issue as a matter of priority, including potential amendments to Australia’s intellectual property and consumer protection regimes as well as non-legislative mechanisms such as protocols, authenticity labels and awareness raising activities. 

Australia Council Submission – Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs Inquiry into the Proliferation of Inauthentic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ‘Style’ art and craft products 

November 2017 

The arts have the ability to both address complex and often controversial societal issues and make our communities stronger and more cohesive. The existing skillsets of artists see them as well placed in predicted future workforces characterised by interdisciplinary and diverse ways of working. The fact the arts are already navigating the impact of digital disruption and pushing boundaries around the use of digital technologies, makes their voice essential in shaping a future Digital Economy Strategy. 

Australia Council Submission – Digital Economy Enquiry 

December 2016 

Noting that the cost of unjustified limitations of fundamental rights and freedoms may be significant, potentially impacting the social, cultural, political and economic lives of all Australians, the Australia Council is of the view that laws and regulations that purport to limit fundamental rights and freedoms should be carefully calibrated in order to ensure that an appropriate balance is struck between competing policy objectives and avoid any unjustifiable restriction on the protection and promotion of rights. The Australia Council is also committed to the right of people to freedom from racial discrimination, which aligns with a number of Council’s core statutory functions, and which Council regards as an essential precondition for the protection and promotion of freedom of expression in the arts. 

Australia Council submission – Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights Inquiry on Freedom of Speech in Australia 

June 2016 

The Australia Council’s submission refers to relevant research and examples to address recommendations in the Draft Report that have potentially significant implications for Australian arts and artists. These include: fair use; the repeal of parallel import restrictions, and a reduction in the duration of copyright. The Arts Council’s principal concern is the erosion of rights and protections provided by existing copyright law. The submission also raises issues that have not been sufficiently addressed in the Draft Report, including moral rights, Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property rights and Australia’s international obligations under the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. 

Australia Council submission – Productivity Commission’s Draft Report on Intellectual Property Arrangements 

February 2016 

Our commitment to the arts in rural and regional Australia is delivered through a suite of funding initiatives that support regional and remote arts practitioners and arts organisations and provide regional and remote audiences with access to the arts. Australia Council funding for arts activity in rural and regional areas ranges from project and development grants, funding through the Australian Government’s National Regional Touring Programs and other Government initiatives, multi-year investment funding for small-to-medium arts organisations and larger Major Performing Arts (MPA) companies, as well as strategic national development and capacity building activity. All these forms of support enable artists and arts organisations to undertake work in the regions and to help grow a sustainable, diverse and vibrant Australian arts sector. 

Australia Council submission – inquiry into broadcasting, online content and live production to rural and regional Australia 

December 2015 

Weakening protections for creators through changes to intellectual property arrangements would impact on the incomes and careers of artists and could lead to the need for further government investment to ensure new Australian work continues to be created. The establishment of a National Indigenous Cultural Authority would enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to oversee and protect their cultural and intellectual property rights. Introduction of specific legislation to protect the intellectual property rights of Indigenous communities would also address gaps in the current framework. It is important to maintain incentives for the creation of new work and ensure appropriate remuneration for Australian artists to support a sustainable arts sector. 

Australia Council submission – Productivity Commission’s Intellectual Property Arrangements Issues Paper 

July 2015 

As a statutory authority of the Commonwealth Government it would not be appropriate for the Australia Council to comment on matters of policy. The 2014-15 Budget measure Arts programmes – reduced funding, applied an annual reduction of $6 million to the Australia Council’s appropriation over the forward estimates and an additional reduction of $3.6 million in 2014-15. The Australia Council is working with the Ministry for the Arts and Creative Partnerships Australia throughout the transition to the new funding framework and we will endeavour to make our respective programs support the arts sector in a complementary way. 

Australia Council submission – Inquiry into the impact of the 2014 and 2015 Commonwealth budget decisions on the arts 

September 2014 

The Australia Council appreciates that the Framework is not intended to increase the administrative burden on regulators. All of the Australia Council’s existing reporting arrangements are mandated by legislation. Under the Australia Council Act 2013 and the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, the Australia Council is required to produce the reporting and compliance evidence to the Minister for the Arts. The Australia Council supports the approach taken in the Framework that enables organisations to use and reference existing reporting processes through the self-assessment mechanism in order to meet the requirements of the Framework at the same time as mitigating additional administrative cost. 

Australia Council submission – Draft Regulator Performance Framework 

April 2014 

In addition to the exemption for touring arts organisations, the Australia Council proposes a separate exemption for artistic activity undertaken by Australian artists or organisations at Australian Government sites. While the Australia Council proposes this exemption specifically with the Venice Biennale in mind, it would also provide an important safeguard for this kind of activity and create certainty for the sector. More broadly, the Australia Council also submits that the ‘in Australia’ special conditions should always be interpreted and applied to the arts with reference to the Government’s policy priorities 

Australia Council submission – Treasury released the draft bill and regulations restating and centralising the special conditions for tax concession entities 

March 2014 

The arts sector can play a unique and significant role in contributing to the development of Northern Australia. Geography and limited capital infrastructure are the underpinning challenges. However, there is already a diverse and vibrant arts sector across the Top End. With greater coordination, targeted resources, capacity building measures and support for innovation, there is considerable scope to enhance the opportunities available to artists, arts organisations and audiences alike. 

Australia Council submission – Australian Parliament’s Northern Australia Committee inquiry into the development of Northern Australia 

August 2013 

The current scheme favours a consignment model rather than direct payment to artists for work. To offer flexibility in the marketplace for artists and arts professionals the Australia Council recommends that the Office for the Arts, through the Review tests with artists and arts professionals a ‘bought as stock’ exception, and whether this is appropriate for the Australian art market. A ‘bought as stock’ option is where no royalty is payable if the work in question was bought directly from the artist and then resold within a time limited period at a set value. The timeframe and the value would be set by the collecting agency in consultation with artists and arts market professionals. The Australia Council supports the establishment of International Reciprocal Arrangements to the Scheme. 

Australia Council Submission – Review of the Resale Royalty Scheme  

August 2013 

The Australia Council believes that the protection of moral rights and economic incentives for the creation of work are the most important considerations when contemplating copyright reform. Any reform to copyright law should address the particular needs of Indigenous artists, custodians and communities by incorporating indigenous cultural protocols. The Australia Council believes that any expansion or modification of fair dealing exceptions should be guided by the public interest in accessing materials weighed against respect for artists’ right to choose how their work is used and the need for remuneration. 

Australia Council submission – ALRC Discussion Paper on Copyright and the Digital Economy 

December 2008 

The Australia Council recognises that Australians must be supported to push their creativity into new domains. Public broadcasters provide platforms for delivering more art to more Australians which directly impacts on the continued viability and vitality of the arts sector. The Australia Council also supports expansion by the national broadcasters into overseas markets as a platform for advancing cultural diplomacy and opening up new and bigger audiences for the arts. The creation of commercially viable digital content for Australian and international markets will contribute to redressing the current trade deficit in digital content. 

Australia Council Submission to the Review ABC and SBS: Towards a Digital Future 

29 August 2008 

The Australia Council’s vision is to enrich the lives of Australians and their communities by supporting the creation and enjoyment of the arts. This submission is informed by the Australia Council’s knowledge of over 670 arts organisations it funds – largely not-for-profits. Apart from providing financial resources, the Australia Council has greatly invested in developing the professionalism and business capacity of these selected organisations, through a number of programs delivered by the Council’s major performing arts board and the key organisations section, which assists organisations who receive multi-year funding. These programs are systematically improving the performance and quality of reporting from these organisations, to requirements determined by the Australia Council, as well as other statutory bodies. 

Australia Council Submission – Inquiry into the Disclosure Regimes for Charities and Not-for-Profit Organisations 

11 April 2008 

Australia has made a substantial investment in its principal arts bodies over decades. The explosion of digital technologies has created opportunities for Australians to access the arts and for industries to employ artists. If these resources can be harnessed effectively, no 18-year-old Australian will leave school without being exposed to the full range of the nation’s, indeed the world’s, creative arts. This is a challenge for governments and art creators that must be considered urgently through collaboration between the arts and media organisations. 

Australia Council Submission – Towards a Creative Australia 

11 April 2008 

The arts have a vital role to play in equipping Australians for the challenges of a rapidly changing global economy through strengthening the nation’s creative skills. It is creativity that underpins communication skills, teamwork and collaboration, leadership, problem identification and problem solving, cultural understanding, project analysis and interpretation. These skills are enhanced through regular interaction with the arts. In anticipation of the increasing economic importance of the fast-growing Asian nations to Australia, the arts can be used in a series of mutually rewarding and reciprocal cultural exchanges between Australia and the region. 

Australia Council Submission – Australian Economy 

11 April 2008 

To limit the exodus of young people from regions to capital cities, the arts and culture must be included in regional and local development plans, both as a means of stimulating economic growth and regeneration. Arts and culture increase the attractiveness of regional centres to young people. Increasing funding to regional, rural and remote library services would enable them to be better utilised as cultural and artistic hubs. There could also be investment in the development of new, or the upgrading of existing, multi-purpose community halls. The Australia Council calls for support for the touring of appropriate regional work into small, remote and rural communities. 

Australia Council Submission – Rural Communities 

10 September 2005 

The Australia Council strongly supports the need for a whole of government strategy to facilitate a co-ordinated approach to government investment in creativity and innovation and accelerate the production of creative content across the cultural and creative industries. This submission provides recommendations as to how the Australia Council can facilitate greater interaction and collaboration between creative arts and science, engineering and technology sectors and contribute significantly to Australia’s innovation economy. 

Australia Council Submission – Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council Inquiry into the role of creativity in the innovation economy 

27 April 2005 

The Australia Council believes the arts sector can play a valuable role in supporting and complementing music activity within schools, and that partnerships between the education and arts sectors are vital if we are going to raise the quality of music teaching and music participation for and by children and young people. There is great potential for stronger partnerships between national and state and territory education and arts authorities. Mandating for a set national school music curriculum is not the answer. Every child has a right to have access to quality musical experiences within the school system, provided by appropriate qualified teaching staff as well as professional musicians trained in appropriate educational outcomes. 

Australia Council Submission – National Review of School Music Education 

February 2001 

The Australia Council in the following submission seeks to establish a case for the importance of the positive intervention of arts education. We consider and indeed reference the fact that arts education, its disciplines and methodologies offers strategies to enhance boys' educational, social, cultural and thereby personal development and achievement. Increased creativity and the capacity to engage in ‘complexity thinking’ are the survival tools of the future and arts education sustains both. 

Creative Australia Submission – House of Representatives inquiry into the Education of Boys