Progress under Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place

The Australian Government's National Cultural Policy—Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place, is a 5-year plan to renew and revive Australia's arts, entertainment and cultural sector. Information about the consultation, development, and implementation of Revive is available at: National Cultural Policy—Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place.

Revive is structured around five interconnected pillars:

First Nations First: Recognising and respecting the crucial place of First Nations stories at the centre of Australia's arts and culture.
A Place for Every Story: Reflecting the breadth of our stories and the contribution of all Australians as the creators of culture.
Centrality of the Artist: Supporting the artist as worker and celebrating artists as creators.
Strong Cultural Infrastructure: Providing support across the spectrum of institutions which sustain our arts, culture and heritage.
Engaging the Audience: Making sure our stories connect with people at home and abroad.

As actions are completed, they will be listed on this page, including where actions are ongoing programs and initiatives.

Updated: 31 July 2023

First Nations First

Delivered actions

$5.0 million provided to upgrade training facilities at NAISDA Dance College's Kariong campus.
Voices of Country—Australia's Action Plan for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022–2032 is a call to action for all stakeholders and was launched at the PULiiMA Indigenous Languages and Technology Conference on 23 August 2023. The Action Plan has been co-authored in partnership between the Directions Group and the Australian Government, and has the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities at its heart.
Continuing to provide support for First Nations peoples to express, conserve and maintain their culture through languages and the arts, under the Indigenous Languages and Arts program. More information on this program, including funding recipients is available at: Indigenous Languages and Arts program | Office for the Arts.
Continuing to invest in First Nations art centres, as well as pivotal sector organisations, through the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program to benefit First Nations communities. More information on this program, including funding recipients, is available at: Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program | Office for the Arts.
Continuing to seek the voluntary and unconditional return of First Nations ancestors and cultural heritage material held overseas and domestically, the return of First Nations ancestors and secret sacred objects held in eight major museums. More information on the programs is available at: Indigenous Repatriation and Return of Cultural Heritage | AIATSIS.

A Place for Every Story

Delivered action

Supported the Bundanon Trust with $2.4 million in the 2022–23 Budget to support its expanded operations in the Shoalhaven region. More information is available at: Arts sector centre stage on Budget night | Ministers for the Department of Infrastructure.

Centrality of the Artist

Delivered actions

Endorsed the voluntary Code of Practice for Visual Arts, Craft and Design through the release of Revive.
Developed information about the support available for artists to be looking for work or working in the creative arts sector, and to have this recognised as part of their mutual obligation requirements for unemployment payments. More information is available at: Workforce Australia supports creative and freelance workers—Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Government (dewr.gov.au).
Expressly prohibited sexual harassment in the Fair Work Act 2009. More information is available at: New workplace sexual harassment laws—Fair Work Ombudsman
- Established a new sexual harassment jurisdiction in the Fair Work Commission. Workers now have a choice whether to make complaints about workplace sexual harassment to the Fair Work Commission or the Australian Human Rights Commission. More information is available at: Sexual harassment | Fair Work Commission (fwc.gov.au).
Introduced a positive duty in the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 that requires employers to take reasonable and proportionate measures to eliminate certain forms of unlawful sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, as far as possible. More information is available at: New positive duty on employers to prevent workplace sexual harassment, sex discrimination and victimisation | Respect@Work (respectatwork.gov.au).
Continuing to promote the Self-Employment Assistance program to the arts community, including to First Nations peoples, to encourage new and existing arts businesses to access free business mentoring and support to develop business plans and strategies that more effectively monetise their cultural contributions to Australia. More information is available at:
Extended the Public and Educational Lending Right Schemes to include digital content for the first time in 2022–23 meaning that Australian authors and publishers will be eligible to receive funding for free use of their eBooks and audiobooks as well as print books. More information is available at: Australian Lending Right Schemes (ELR/PLR) | Office for the Arts.
Supported the ongoing financial sustainability of the seven national performing arts training organisations, including through removal of the efficiency dividend and $5 million in additional assistance to the National Institute of Dramatic Art as announced in the October 2022–23 Budget. More information is available at: National training organisations in the performing arts | Office for the Arts.
Continued to support creative practice in the classroom through the five arts subjects (dance, drama, media arts, music and visual arts) under the Australian Curriculum: The Arts. On 1 April 2022, all elements of the revised Australian Curriculum Version 9.0 were formally endorsed by all state and territory education ministers. Further information is available at v9.australiancurriculum.edu.au.

Strong Cultural Infrastructure

Delivered actions

Re-established Ministerial-level meetings between Commonwealth, state and territory cultural ministers, and the Australian Local Government Association. At a meeting in October 2022, Ministers agreed to meet approximately twice a year. Cultural Ministers last met on 9 June 2023.
Supporting the nine National Collecting Institutions in the Arts portfolio so that they are able to operate sustainably with increased core ongoing funding and one-off funding to deliver building repairs and replace assets that are at end-of-life at seven National Collecting Institutions. More information is available at: Major funding boost for National Collecting Institutions in 2023-24 Federal Budget | Office for the Arts
Providing ongoing funding for the National Library of Australia's Trove platform—a core piece of Australia's cultural infrastructure. More information is available at: Trove funding secured in 2023–24 Federal Budget | Office for the Arts
The Australian Government has restored $44.0 million in previous funding cuts to the Australia Council for the Arts (now Creative Australia) to address underfunded areas like youth arts and expand its functions to establish the new landmark body for the arts, Creative Australia.
- Introduced the Creative Australia Bill which was passed by the Parliament, establishing the centrepiece of Revive, a restored and modernised Australia Council for the Arts, to deliver increased investment and better support for the Australian cultural and creative sector.
- Established Creative Workplaces, within the newly established Creative Australia, to provide advice on issues of pay, safety and welfare in the arts and entertainment sector, refer matters to the relevant authorities and develop codes of conduct and resources for the sector.
- Established Music Australia backed with a commitment of $69.4 million over four years, to support the Australian music industry to grow, including through strategic initiatives and industry partnerships, research, skills development and export promotion.
The functions of Creative Partnerships Australia have been transferred to the newly established Creative Australia. This aims to create synergies between public and private partnerships, as well as government and philanthropic investment.

Engaging the Audience

Delivered actions

Continuing to support activities and programs that support live performance, festivals and touring, including in regional areas. More information is available at:
Provided $12.0 million over next four years to increase investment to support digital games developers and small and medium independent games studios through Screen Australia. Funding opportunities will be announced at: Production—Online—Funding and Support—Screen Australia.
Continuing to use Australia's Nation Brand to tell uniquely Australian stories, and demonstrate Australian capabilities through our First Nations cultures and storytelling. More information is available at: Home | Australia's Nation Brand (brandaustralia.com).
The Australian Government has awarded the Alannah and Madeline Foundation $6 million to deliver digital and media literacy programs in schools. The programs will empower Australian children and young people to become critical, responsive and active citizens online.
To create new opportunities for Australian artists and developers through growing Australia’s games industry, legislation to effect the Digital Games Tax Offset passed through both Houses of Parliament on 21 June 2023. Members were appointed to the Digital Games Tax Offset Advisory Board on 12 September 2023. The Digital Games Tax Offset is live and accepting applications. For more information visit: Digital games | Office for the Arts.