Intro
10 Year Vision for Culture and the Arts in Western Australia
Western Australia’s arts, culture, and creative industries are central to the future development of the state. They create jobs, attract tourists, are essential to our social fabric and sense of identity, and enhance wellbeing. They tell and celebrate our stories to the world.
After a time of great instability due to global disruptions it is time to create a vision for the next 10 years. This will help us build an even stronger, more robust and innovative arts, culture, and creative industries sector for the future.
The Australian Government’s National Cultural Policy: Revive: A place for every story, a story for every place outlines a 5 year plan to revive the arts in Australia.
The State Government’s economic development framework, Diversify WA, shows our commitment to diversifying the economy. Our arts, culture, and creative industries provide significant opportunities to lead economic development by growing our state’s creative skills, innovation, intellectual property, cultural exports, global audiences and markets.
Beyond economic impacts, our arts, cultural and creative industries promote social cohesion, give us a shared identity, and provide significant social and mental health benefits. Our sector is the great connector, includer and provider of safe and exciting opportunities for all people to participate in their local communities.
We have the world’s oldest living and continuous Aboriginal cultures, stretching back at least 65,000 years, with stories reaching to the Permian Ice Age, 350 million years ago.
Our world-renowned artists are just as likely to live in remote communities, as they are to live in cities. Our creative industry leaders reach international markets direct from regional towns.
It is with excitement and anticipation that I start this process to develop a 10 Year Vision for Culture and the Arts in Western Australia that will build on the exceptional talent and expertise we have in 2023. It is important that we walk this journey together to take advantage of the opportunities the next 10 years will bring.
Imagine what we can achieve by 2033. The planning for our creative future starts now.
Hon David Templeman MLAMinister for Culture and the Arts; Sport and Recreation; International Education; Heritage
The Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) is seeking arts, culture, and creative industry input to the development of a 10 Year Vision for Culture and the Arts in Western Australia (10 Year Vision).The 10 Year Vision is WA's opportunity to update Strategic Strategic Directions 2016-2031.
Strategic Directions 2016-2031 was developed in partnership with the sector through the Arts Leadership Group, involving extensive sector consultation. The document was the first to provide a unified vision for the arts, culture, and creative industries in WA, and was intended to provide a long-term strategic direction for the state.
While Strategic Directions 2016-2031 contains valuable insights and aspirations for WA’s arts, culture and creative industries, since the COVID-19 pandemic there is a need for an updated vision for the sector that reflects the changes in national and global context, and more clearly articulates the State Government’s priorities for our arts, culture, and creative industries in line with wider priorities for the state.
Strategic Directions 2016-2031’s vision is: 'for Western Australia to be the best place it can be to live, work and play thanks to the contribution of its arts, culture and creative industries.'
The key areas identified in Strategic Directions 2016-2031 are:
These areas remain high priorities into 2033; however, several of the milestones outlined in Strategic Directions 2016-2031 have been achieved, as outlined in the table on the following pages. Other milestones from Strategic Directions 2016-2031 need further consideration as part of the process to develop the 10 Year Vision.
A more detailed review assessing achievements against the intended outcomes of Strategic Directions 2016-2031 is also available.
There is an opportunity for the State Government's 10 Year Vision to draw on the framework of the National Cultural Policy: Revive: A place for every story, a story for every place, the Australian Government's 5 year plan to revive the arts in Australia.
The State Government's 10 Year Vision can highlight opportunities to work effectively across all levels of government with the aim to achieve better outcomes for everyone.
Like Revive, there is an opportunity to structure Western Australia's 10 Year Vision with key themes of focus areas.
The DLGSC is seeking input to draw on expertise and insights of Western Australia's arts, culture, and creative industries to develop the 10 Year Vision.
The DLGSC has engaged experienced arts and cultural consultant Kate Larsen to support development of the 10 Year Vision.
Consultation to contribute to the 10 Year Vision is complete. If you would like to register for consultation to develop targeted strategies and plans in the coming years, please email researchca@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
© State of Western Australia. Published by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC), Western Australia, July 2023.
This document has been published by DLGSC. Any representation, statement, opinion, or advice expressed or implied in this publication is made in good faith and on the basis that the government, its employees, and agents are not liable for any damage or loss whatsoever which may occur as a result of action taken or not taken, as the case may be, in respect of any representation, statement, opinion or advice referred to herein.
This document has been designed and written to make it accessible to as many people as possible. Copies of this publication are available in alternative formats upon request.
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Postal address: PO BOX 8349, Perth Business Centre WA 6849Email: info@dlgsc.wa.gov.auWebsite: www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au
The DLGSC acknowledges the Aboriginal people throughout Western Australia as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands, waters, and communities in which we operate. The DLGSC is committed to developing strong working relationships with Aboriginal people and is proud to celebrate the cultural diversity, strength and resilience of Aboriginal people, and is deeply grateful for the contributions they make to the state of Western Australia. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal people and their cultures, and to Elders both past and present.
The DLGSC works with partners across government and within its diverse sectors to enliven the Western Australian community and economy through support for and provision of sporting, recreational, cultural, and artistic policy, programs and activities for locals and visitors to the state. The DLGSC provides regulation and support to local governments and the racing, gaming, and liquor industries to maintain quality and compliance with relevant legislation, for the benefit of all Western Australians.
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