The SA Government’s Landmark Cultural Policy Includes $1.5 Million Annual Investment in the Local Music Scene
The State Cultural Policy, A Place to Create, has been lauded by those in the arts sector.
Image Zachrie Friesen
As the Federal election begins to heat up, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and the Labor Government have announced South Australia’s first 10-year Cultural Policy, A Place to Create, aimed at securing the future of the State’s arts and culture scene.
The policy has been green lit to help “enrich South Australia’s future by strengthening our communities, enlivening our places, and connecting us through arts, culture and creativity.”
Along with revealing the key details of the 10-year plan, the SA Government has also released the Delivery Plan 2025-2027, outlining the current priority actions for arts, culture and creativity.
The policy is based around three key strategies: allowing access to art, culture and creative experiences for everyone, making SA a world leader in supporting artists and creatives in their careers, and strengthening the arts ecosystem to ensure artists, businesses, and cultural institutions thrive.
The Government has pledged $80 million in long-term investment for the arts sector, including an additional $1.5 million in annual funding for SA’s music community, which will be used to increase existing programs and initiatives and help sustain our local live music venues via the South Australian Music Development Office (MDO).
Highlights of the program include more than $15 million in funding to support the Art Gallery of South Australia, more than $2.5 million to kickstart opportunities for children and young people to develop their creativity through programs including the Adelaide Youth Orchestras and Carclew, more than $2.3 million invested into First Nations arts and culture in South Australia and more than $500,000 to help grow the arts and culture scene in regional areas through programs delivered by Country Arts SA.
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“South Australia has long been a hub of arts and culture, but this didn’t happen by chance – it was built through deliberate effort,” Premier Peter Malinauskas said in a statement about the policy. “And today we are building on that effort for the long term with a comprehensive $80 million policy, to formally enshrine our state as a place where people can live, work and create. Our international reputation for hosting events like the Festival and Fringe relies on a thriving grassroots arts community.
“This policy will serve as a blueprint for supporting artists in their essential work of strengthening our community, fostering creativity and shaping a vibrant and hopeful future for our state.”
MusicSA CEO, Christine Schloithe, added, “This new funding is not just welcome, it’s critical. It’s the outcome of deep industry engagement and years of sector-driven advocacy coming out of the pandemic, which we know catastrophically impacted this industry. We thank the Premier and Minister Michaels for listening and acting.
“The State Cultural Policy outlines a vision to build a more inclusive and resilient creative ecosystem. For the music sector, the inclusion of new funding through the MDO is a strong signal that original, live music is being recognised and intrinsically valued as a critical part of that cultural future.
APRA AMCOS CEO, Dean Ormston said, “South Australia has long recognised the value of music not just through funding, but through smart, creative policy that has reduced red tape, supported venues and ensured that music remains central to the cultural and economic life of the state. This new policy builds on that track record. It recognises the entire music ecosystem, from songwriting and small venues through to major festivals and international export. Importantly, it makes a clear, confident commitment to its growth.”
Read the full 10-year Cultural Policy, A Place to Create, here, and remember to do your bit to support local creatives.
