Policy experts from across Australia’s arts and culture sector will join forces in September to propose creative ways of helping the industry flourish.
The Art of Tax Reform Summit, to be held at the Sydney Opera House on September 26, will produce recommendations for the next National Cultural Policy, due in 2028.
The NSW Government is currently inviting submissions for the Summit.
It says the Summit will bring together economics and tax policy experts as well as artists, donors, venue operators and other participants in the arts and culture fields.
“It is time to talk tax. In September we are bringing tax policy experts together with leaders from across the arts, culture and creative industries, as well as philanthropy and the commercial sector to develop a suite of tax reform initiatives to present to the Commonwealth as they develop the next national cultural policy,” said Minister for the Arts, Music and the Night-Time Economy, John Graham.
“This will be the most unusual show the Opera House has hosted, and its impact could last generations.
“Two of the biggest levers Governments have to support the arts and creative sectors are regulatory change and funding.
“If tax boffins and creatives can agree on something then our nation should take notice.”
More enterprises contributing to Australia’s $122.3 billion creative industry are based in NSW than anywhere else.
But many leading organisations struggle to remain competitive in a rapidly changing world, and artists and arts workers face the challenge of unpredictable incomes.
Creative Australia’s Artists as Workers report last year found a typical professional artist’s gross income was $54,500, including $16,000 from non-arts sources. The report noted this compared poorly to the incomes of similarly skilled and qualified workers in the 2021 census such as “managers” at $107,400 and “professionals” at $98,700.
“The creative industries are a cornerstone of Australia’s cultural identity and an important contributor to the economy,” said NSW Treasurer, Daniel Mookhey.
“The sector is telling us that tax policy settings are a significant impediment to artists’ business viability, international competitiveness and income stability.
“That is why NSW is pleased to host this summit. It will bring our brightest creative thinkers together with tax and economic experts – to develop a set of reform initiatives to discuss with our Commonwealth colleagues.”
The summit will look for ways to address the industry’s many hurdles through tax reform. Some ideas already on the table include:
- Live Performance Australia’s Live Theatre Tax Offset, which would prioritise investment in new work over the fixed costs of running a theatre.
- Tax rebates for live music – a proposal by the music rights management organisation APRA AMCOS intended to support venues.
- A review of prize money tax settings proposed by the National Association for the Visual Arts, addressing the fact that winners of government funded arts prizes must pay tax on that prize money.
Submissions are open until Sunday 10 August 2025 and can be made by visiting https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/cultural-tax-reform.
