Parliamentary Act signals new era for creativity in Victoria

Creative Victoria,
05 May 2017, Australia

The Creative Victoria Act 2016 was passed in the Victorian Parliament yesterday, signalling a new era for the creative industries in our state.

The Creative Victoria Act 2016 expresses the Victorian Government's vision and support for, and whole-of-sector approach to the creative industries.

It recognises that:

  • The arts have an intrinsic value that contributes to the cultural depth, diversity and life of Victoria;
  • The arts and creative industries contribute significantly to Victoria's wealth and prosperity;
  • The arts and creative industries are means to improve the quality of life for all individuals in Victoria and improve the community of Victoria as a whole;
  • All individuals in Victoria are equally entitled to access opportunities and participate in and contribute to the arts and creative industries in Victoria; and
  • All individuals should be free to express their ideas and opinions through the arts and creative industries.

It explicitly recognises the contribution and importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts cultural practice, and includes a specific objective to support and promote it.

The Act also acknowledges the economic value of the creative industries, which currently contribute $23 billion a year to the state and provide around 220,000 jobs.

Creative Victoria was established administratively on 1 January 2015. Replacing Arts Victoria, it was established to pursue a more integrated approach to the creative industries, spanning not just the arts and culture but the full spectrum of screen and design industries as well.

Repealing and replacing the Arts Victoria Act 1972, the Creative Victoria Act 2016 provides a legislative foundation for these arrangements, and acknowledges the evolution of the arts and creative industries in Victoria over the last 40 years.

The principles expressed in the Creative Victoria Act 2016 draw on and represent the key values that emerged during the consultation process for the Creative State strategy. This included more than 20 industry-specific, cross-sector and public workshops, formal submissions and an online forum.

Over 10,000 people contributed to this consultation process, including individual practitioners, peak bodies, education institutions, government bodies, creative businesses and arts and cultural organisations of all types and sizes.

Read the Creative Victoria Act 2016 in full

http://creative.vic.gov.au/news/2017/parliamentary-act-signals-new-era-for-creativity-in-victoria