New South Australian Cultural Policy Adds $1.5 Million In Annual Funding For Local Music
The launch of 'A Place To Create,' South Australia’s first ten-year cultural policy, is a milestone moment for the state.
Jive Bar (Credit: Jack Fenby via Jive)
On March 31st, the government of South Australia proudly launched A Place To Create, a ten-year policy intended to enrich South Australia’s future by enlivening its creative industries. The aim of the program is simple and significant: “Arts, culture, and creativity for everyone.”
A Place To Create establishes arts, culture, and creativity as crucial to the state’s economic and social future.
APRA AMCOS, the Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society, applauds the policy, and describes it as “deliver[ing] on the South Australian Government’s election commitment to legislate the value of the creative industries and set[ting] a new national benchmark in recognising music and the arts not only as essential to identity, but as industries of impact.”
Music SA, the peak body and advocate for the South Australian contemporary music industry, also “warmly congratulate[s]” South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas, and Minister for Arts, Andrea Michaels MP, on this landmark cultural policy.
The policy includes the reaffirmation of $80 million in long-term investment for the arts sector, as well as an additional $1.5 million in annual funding to increase the existing programs and initiatives via the South Australian Music Development Office.
Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter
Music SA views this moment as a direct response to recent years of rigorous research, advocacy, and sector consultation.
The funding aligns with the findings of two key Music SA-led research projects: 1). Music SA’s 2022-2023 industry report revealed that the sector generated $490 million in economic benefit to this state and supported more than 5000 full-time-equivalent jobs, and 2). Music SA's 2024 Annual Survey of the South Australian Contemporary Music Industry identified the need for greater support for grassroots venues, more funding for original music, growth in regional engagement, and more sustainable pathways for emerging artists and music workers.
Christine Schloithe, CEO of Music SA, states, “This is a great step forward for South Australia’s music community.
“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.
“MusicSA looks forward to working closely with the Music Development Office to ensure the investment reaches the artists, venues, regions and industry professionals who need it most, and who make South Australian music what it is: bold, diverse, and world-class.”
The investment also responds to APRA AMCOS’s submission to the policy process, in which the organisation underscored the necessary prioritisation of supporting the creation and performance of new music, investing in artists and industry capability, and ensuring that music plays a meaningful role in education, wellbeing and economic development.
“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,” said APRA AMCOS CEO, Dean Ormston.
“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.
“Incorporating music and culture as export industries and significant for the economic, cultural and social wealth of each jurisdiction is key to ensuring not just their sustainability, but their success.
“We need to take the same approach to music as we do to our world-class wine and food sectors; invest in talent, back our creators, and grow our markets,” Ormston adds.
“We’re pleased to see that this policy also recognises the importance of First Nations creativity, and of embedding the value of arts and culture in legislation, giving the sector the long-term stability and recognition it deserves.
“We look forward to continuing our partnership with the South Australian Government to ensure A Place to Create delivers for songwriters, artists, audiences, businesses and communities, and secures a vibrant and world-leading future for South Australian music,” Ormston concludes.
In what is a notably precarious time for the Australian music industry, the launch of A Place To Create indicates positivity ahead and solidifies Adelaide’s status as Australia’s first and only UNESCO City of Music.
This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body
More From Our Network
