Investing in joy. How to save our declining arts sector – submission

Hundreds of live music venues have closed. A string of once-popular festivals have been cancelled. Australia’s artists continue to be desperately underpaid.

The cost-of-living crisis has left our creative sector for dead, despite 73% of Australians saying the arts had improved their quality of life during the pandemic.

Art pays its way. It doesn’t just create joy and happiness for Australians and overseas visitors; it creates jobs and economic growth – on a shoestring budget compared to other industries.

The Australia Institute has written a submission to the NSW government ahead of its Art of Tax Reform summit next week.

Key recommendations:

• Collect tax properly to pay for arts funding.
  • Lobby the federal government to reform the GST so it keeps up with economic growth, as it was originally designed to do.
  • Increase coal royalties and end fossil fuel subsidies in NSW.
• Introduce Youth Cultural Passes, similar to the $200 Dine & Discover vouchers during COVID.
• Introduce a Book Bounty, like the national bounty which was scrapped by the Howard government after 28 successful years.
• Make art prizes and grants tax free.

“The cost of living crisis has had a devastating impact on the arts,” said Skye Predavec, Anne Kantor Fellow at The Australia Institute.

“After paying their bills, rent or mortgage, buying food and other essentials, Australians have had very little left to spend on the things which make them happy.

“In 2020, the art sector contributed almost $15 billion to the Australian economy and employed around 200,000 people. For every million dollars in turnover, nine jobs were supported. That’s nine times more than the construction industry.

“While it may be possible to move other sectors of the Australian economy offshore, Australian culture can only be produced in Australia.

“If we don’t support the arts now, the decline we’ve seen since COVID will continue, perhaps irreversibly in some areas.

“This submission outlines clear solutions for better arts funding, which would throw a much-needed lifeline to our creative industries and allow more Australians to enjoy art and cultural activities.”