Art and Politics

Australian governments at all levels have been engaged with arts and culture in many different forms since the beginning of European settlement. The way this has occurred is documented and analysed here, both from an historical and critical perspective.

Changing understandings of culture and the significance of Indigenous Culture to Australia receive special attention. While the focus is primarily directed to Federal Government engagement, there is also consideration paid to both state and local government involvement. There is attention paid to the censorship of arts practice by governments as well as the direct interventions by politicians in arts practice. Different approaches to the arts by governments are also considered, as well as attempts to develop a national cultural policy. The impact of the recent pandemic is addressed and various research reports about the arts sector and its relationship with government are also noted. There is then a final discussion about some issues that governments could address in the future, that might ensure a more sustainable Australian arts sector.

This book will be of particular interest to scholars of contemporary arts, arts management, cultural history, public policy and cultural policy. It may also interest bureaucrats and politicians.

Josephine Caust is a Principal Fellow (Honorary) and Associate Professor in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne, Australia. She was Founder Editor of the Asia Pacific Journal of Arts and Cultural Management and has authored works such as Arts Leadership in Contemporary Contexts (Routledge 2018), Arts and Cultural Leadership in Asia (Routledge 2015) and Arts Leadership: International Case Studies (Tilde University Press 2013). She is a regular arts commentator for The Conversation.