NSW response to the National Cultural Policy consultation

The response sets out NSW’s priorities for national action to support artists, creative workers, organisations and communities.

NSW is Australia’s largest creative state. Our creative industries support almost 330,000 jobs and play an important role in Australia’s cultural, social and economic life.

The NSW response builds on Creative Communities, NSW Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy 2024 to 2033. This is the NSW Government’s 10-year integrated policy for arts, culture and the creative industries. 

Creative Communities was developed to complement the national cultural policy framework and supports a shared commitment to prioritise First Nations culture, grow creative industries, strengthen cultural infrastructure and take Australian stories and creativity to the world.

What NSW is calling for

The NSW response identifies 3 priority areas:

1. targeted cultural tax reform
2. creative and performing arts education
3. generative artificial intelligence in the arts and creative economy.

These priorities focus on practical reforms that can help build a strong, fair and sustainable creative sector.

Supporting artists and creative organisations

Artists, creative workers and organisations are facing rising costs, unstable incomes and changing audience patterns.

The NSW response calls for targeted cultural tax reform to support artists and creative organisations.

Reforms could help:

1. income stability
2. encourage investment and philanthropy, and
3. support the creation of new Australian work.

Strengthening creative education and pathways

Creative education helps build skills for work, life and community participation.

The NSW response calls for stronger national action to support creative and performing arts education.

This includes:

1. better pathways from school to tertiary education, training and creative careers
2. dedicated First Nations education and skills pathways
3. targeted education in arts and creativity.

Responding to generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Generative AI is changing how creative work is made, shared and used.

The NSW response calls for national leadership to protect artists and creative workers while supporting safe and ethical innovation.

This includes:

1. using Australian copyright and intellectual property law to ensure creative work used in generative artificial intelligence is recognised, monitored and remunerated,
2. recognising the need to respect Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property,
3. recommending that artists should be recognised and paid fairly when their work is used by generative Artificial Intelligence.

Building a strong creative future

Art, culture and the creative industries help tell Australian stories. They support jobs, businesses, and stronger communities. 

The NSW response sets out practical ways national policy can support a stronger creative future for NSW and Australia.

Download the full response below.