A New Name, A New Direction?

The Australia Council for the Arts — the federal government's primary arts funding and advisory body — was renamed Creative Australia following legislation passed in 2023. The change was more than cosmetic. It signalled a broader repositioning of how the federal government thinks about the arts: not just as a cultural good, but as a component of the wider creative economy.

For artists, arts workers, and cultural organisations, understanding what this shift means in practice is essential for navigating funding, advocacy, and career planning.

What Is Creative Australia?

Creative Australia is the statutory authority responsible for supporting, developing, and promoting Australian arts and culture. Under the new structure, it encompasses:

  • Australia Council functions: Peer-assessed grants for individuals and organisations across all artforms continue under the Creative Australia umbrella.
  • Music Australia: A new dedicated body supporting the Australian music industry, including touring, export, and industry development.
  • Writers Australia: Similarly, a new body focused specifically on literature and writing.

The creation of these artform-specific bodies reflects a recognition that the music and writing sectors have distinct economies and needs that benefit from focused attention.

What's Changed for Grant Applicants?

For most individual artists applying for project funding, the day-to-day experience of applying for grants has not changed dramatically. The peer-assessment model remains, and the core grant categories — individuals, groups, and organisations — are still in place. However, there are some notable differences:

  • Artform-specific programs: Musicians and writers now have additional, dedicated pathways through Music Australia and Writers Australia respectively.
  • Stronger emphasis on First Nations arts: Creative Australia has committed to increased investment in First Nations cultural expression, with dedicated funding streams and advisory structures.
  • Creative economy framing: Applications that articulate economic outcomes — jobs created, industries supported, export potential — may find a more receptive environment under the new framing.

The National Cultural Policy: Revive

Creative Australia sits within the broader context of the federal government's Revive: A Place for Every Story, a Story for Every Place national cultural policy, released in 2023. This is Australia's first dedicated national cultural policy in a decade, and it sets out five pillars:

  1. First Nations First — centring the work, culture, and self-determination of First Nations peoples.
  2. A place for every story — reflecting the diversity of Australian life.
  3. The centrality of the artist — ensuring artists can earn a living wage from their work.
  4. Strong cultural infrastructure — investing in the venues, organisations, and systems that support the arts.
  5. Engaging the world — projecting Australian culture internationally.

Sector Responses: Mixed Views

Responses to the changes from the arts sector have been mixed. Many welcomed the increased investment and the creation of artform-specific bodies. Others have raised concerns about the "creative economy" framing, arguing that it risks subordinating cultural value to economic metrics and marginalising experimental or non-commercial work.

Advocacy organisations including the Australian Association for the Performing Arts (APRA) and the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) have called for ongoing consultation to ensure that the diversity of practice — including community arts, experimental work, and work by artists from marginalised communities — is not squeezed out by an economic productivity agenda.

What Should Artists Do Now?

Regardless of the policy debates, the practical advice for artists is straightforward:

  • Familiarise yourself with the Creative Australia website and sign up for their newsletter.
  • Check whether Music Australia or Writers Australia has specific programs relevant to your practice.
  • Engage with the Revive policy document to understand how the federal government is framing arts investment.
  • Participate in sector consultations and advocacy processes — your voice matters in shaping policy.

The landscape is changing. Staying informed is the best way to ensure you can take advantage of new opportunities as they emerge.