National Cultural Policy – First Nations consultation

The Office for the Arts is inviting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, cultural practitioners, organisations and communities to take part in consultations on Australia’s next National Cultural Policy.

This consultation will help inform the next phase of the National Cultural Policy, to build on the success of Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place.

First Nations cultures, knowledge systems, languages and creative practices are central to Australia’s cultural life.

We want to support First Nations people and organisations to understand the consultation process and participate in ways that are accessible, culturally appropriate and practical.

Whether you work in the arts and creative industries and adjacent sectors, lead community initiatives, support language revitalisation, or simply want your community’s voice represented – your input is important.

You can read the public consultation paper (also available in Easy Read and Auslan) and find out more about how to make a submission.

Join an online forum: week of 18 May 2026

Four online forums will be held during the week of 18 May 2026 to support First Nations stakeholders to:

learn about the National Cultural Policy consultation process
connect with the flexible options for making a submission
access information about the current National Cultural Policy
ask questions about participation and submissions.

The forums are designed to support participation from urban, regional and remote communities.

They will include:

an overview of the National Cultural Policy consultation process
information about Revive and its 5 pillars
guidance on preparing a written, video or audio submission
practical information about how to lodge a submission online
opportunities to ask questions about the process.

Register for a forum

Forum 1

Tuesday 19 May, 2pm to 3pm AEST

Forum 2

Wednesday 20 May, 11am to 12pm AEST

Forum 3

Thursday 21 May, 10am to 11am AEST

Forum 4

Friday 22 May, 1pm to 2pm AEST

Register for a forum

Who should participate

All First Nations people, communities and organisations are welcome to participate, especially:

First Nations artists and creatives
Elders, community leaders and cultural knowledge holders
First Nations community-controlled organisations and peak bodies
arts and cultural organisations
language workers and educators
young people and emerging creatives
regional and remote communities
First Nations people working across media, heritage and creative sectors.

Make a submission

First Nations peoples, organisations and communities are encouraged to share their views through the public submissions process. Submissions can include perspectives on:

First Nations arts and cultural practice
language and cultural maintenance
Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP)
access to funding and opportunities
regional and remote participation
cultural infrastructure and support
pathways for First Nations artists and organisations.

The consultation process aims to support accessible participation, including through:

guidance materials and submission support
plain English information
flexible submission formats, including audio and visual submissions

To make a written submission, complete the online form and either write a statement of up to 500 words or upload your submission document (preferred formats are .docx (Word) or .pdf).

Other ways to share your views

If you would prefer to contact us directly, ask questions about the process or submit your views in a different format, please email culturalpolicy@arts.gov.au or call us on 1800 248 025 during standard business hours. A fillable Easy Read version of the submission form is available upon request.

National Relay Service

If you're d/Deaf or find it hard to hear or speak to hearing people on the phone, you may like to use the National Relay Service to contact us. Visit the Access Hub website for options and instructions on using the Service.

About the National Cultural Policy

The new National Cultural Policy will build on the work underway through Revive and help shape the future of Australia’s arts, cultural and creative sectors.

Since the release of Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place, the Australian Government has delivered a range of initiatives to support First Nations arts, culture, languages and cultural authority. These include:

establishment of the First Nations Board within Creative Australia
response to the Productivity Commission's study report into the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts and crafts market
continued support for First Nations languages and arts, under the Indigenous Languages and Arts program
continued investment in First Nations art centres, as well as pivotal sector organisations, through the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program
continued work seeking the voluntary and unconditional return of First Nations ancestors and cultural heritage material held overseas and domestically.

These actions form part of the Australian Government’s ongoing work to strengthen First Nations leadership and participation across Australia’s arts and cultural landscape.

You can read more about what has been delivered to date under Revive.

For more information about the broader consultation process, visit the National Cultural Policy consultation page.