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A revival of support for arts and culture has been laid out today with the Federal Government’s release of Revive, a new National Cultural Policy.

Announced by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke, the Policy, to be funded by $286 million over four years, has as its centrepiece the setting up of Creative Australia - the Government’s new principal arts investment and advisory body - and a commitment that “puts First Nations first”.

The establishment of Creative Australia aims to expand the functions and funding of the Australia Council for the Arts, continue to fund projects at arm's length, based on their artistic merit.

As part of Creative Australia, dedicated bodies will oversee investments in the music industry as well as helping Australian writers and illustrators.

This will include $69.4 million over four years for the establishment of Music Australia to drive the growth of Australia’s contemporary music sector while the initiatives for Indigenous culture include funding the establishment of a National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Alice Springs.

The moves reflect the view that that arts policy - especially the Australia Council’s priorities - has become too elitist, and should be tilted more towards mainstream and commercial culture.

Advising that his government recognises the importance of art and culture to Australia's identity and pledging to make the arts accessible to everyone, Prime Minister Albanese (pictured below) stated “the arts cannot be left simply to those who can afford to do it.

"Doors must be opened so we can hear the great diversity of voices that have struggled to find an outlet."

He added that there will also be minimum pay for artists contracted by government entities to perform at Australian government events and functions, noting “it's also important to lift yourself above your economic debate. This is about our soul, this is about our identity.”

Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke says the new investment will help Australian artists reach an international audience and enable them to compete with overseas acts, telling the ABC "people shifted from buying albums and CDs to streaming, international competition is just seamless now.

"It's really hard to make a living just off local streaming revenues. To be able to reach an international audience is critically part of that."

Revive is the result of widespread consultation with industry stakeholders that began soon after last year’s Federal election.

Other highlights from the policy include:

• $19 million over three years, then $4.5 million a year ongoing to fund the development of original Australian works of scale
• Deliver a triennial State of Australian Culture Survey to help measure impact of the policy
• Legislation to protect Indigenous knowledge and cultural expression, such as cracking down on fake Aboriginal art, as well backing for the planned National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Alice Springs and an Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Perth.
• Plans to introduce quotas for Australian content on streaming services

The Policy builds on Labor's Creative Australia document, first put forward by the former Gillard government in 2013 but later scrapped under the Coalition. During the following decade, Federal arts spending dropped by 22.7%.

First Nations arts policy
Prime Minister Albanese said Australia's First Nations communities were at the heart of the nation's cultural road map, adding “that's why First Nations art has been put as the first pillar.

"Just as we can learn about caring for our country, for our land and our waterways, from those who looked after this island continent for 65,000 years at least, we can learn as well from the way that they told their stories."

The Policy will also introduce legislation to protect Indigenous knowledge and cultural expression, such as cracking down on fake Aboriginal art.

A new arts investment and advisory body known as Creative Australia will be set up, with $200 million going towards the organisation over the next four years.

The Policy will also back the planned National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Alice Springs and Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Perth.

Click here to read the new Policy.

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