Australia is evaluating whether its national cultural policy Revive has actually revived the arts sector post-CCOVID, with the government declaring that 75 of 85 promises have been delivered as consultations for a new policy proceed.

While Revive’s delivery is framed as progress, critics argue there are gaps between rhetoric and reality as the consultation for a new iteration moves forward.

Public submissions, numbering around 50, center on enduring underfunding and call for measures such as a universal basic income for artists and increased funding for arts education at the tertiary level.

These submissions collectively highlight fiscal concerns and advocate for stronger support to sustain the arts in the next policy framework.

Recent sector crises—such as Creative Australia’s Venice Biennale controversy, the collapse of Adelaide Writers’ Week, defunding of visual arts institutions, and several music festival cancellations—have intensified criticism of governance and funding.

Industry tensions and funding shifts are contributing to a sense of dysfunction and a perceived misalignment between policy promises and sector realities.

Industry voices warn that the policy review process, including governance and appointment methods for new panels, risks undermining objective evaluation of Revive’s impact.

Critics argue the process shows a disconnect between rhetoric and reality, raising questions about whether leadership will deliver a genuine, independent assessment.

A nine-member advisory group and five three-person expert panels have been formed to shape the next national cultural strategy, but concerns persist about potential bias and conflicts of interest given close ties to government or Creative Australia.

Consultation on the forthcoming policy is nearing its close, with panels feeding recommendations into the advisory group amid worries about representation and influence.

The Revive framework under the current reforms established specialist bodies for writing, music, arts workplaces, and First Nations artists, alongside tax offsets for digital gaming and local content quotas for platforms like Netflix.

Australia remains among the OECD nations with relatively low arts funding, raising questions about the ambition and sufficiency of the next national cultural policy.