Building the foundations for equity in the arts

The Albanese Labor Government has today released Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan to address barriers for artists, arts workers and audiences with disability. 

Equity is a four-year plan to drive change in the arts. It’s an initiative under Australia’s Cultural Policy, Revive, and an Associated Plan under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031.

Equity has been developed in consultation with artists and arts workers with disability. It will establish and fund an advisory body of people with disability from diverse backgrounds and arts practices across Australia, to shape the implementation and monitor progress of the plan. 

Building on Revive’s five pillars, the plan’s three key priorities are to:

  • recognise artists and arts workers with disability as central to Australia’s vibrant arts and cultural sector
  • build strong and inclusive governments and organisations 
  • engage the audience with fair, open and equitable access to arts and culture

Equity will be delivered by the Office for the Arts and Creative Australia, in consultation with Screen Australia, with funding of $8.1 million for initiatives, including: 

  • an Arts and Screen Employment Pathways Pilot Program 
  • extending and expanding the reach of the current Creative Australia Arts and Disability Initiatives 
  • accessibility activities at live music venues and music festivals through the 2024-25 Revive Live program
  • arts and disability services
  • continued funding to the annual National Arts and Disability Awards and Arts and Disability Fellowship
  • a National Arts and Disability Forum and Gathering
  • a National Arts and Disability Code of Practice or appropriate guidelines
  • First Nations arts and disability needs and projects, to be delivered by Creative Australia’s First Nations Board.

Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said our arts, cultural, screen and digital sectors should reflect the communities they serve.

“Governments have talked about disability access as a way of just trying to make sure that everybody can get into the audience.

“This policy is wanting to make sure that people with disability have equal access to the stage, the studio and the screen.”

Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, said Equity is a strong example of our Governments commitment to bring Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 from words on a page to life.

“Equity lays the groundwork for long-term change to achieve equity for artists, arts workers and audiences with disability across the arts and cultural sector so that people with disability can fully participate in all aspects of community life.”

“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible society that provides opportunities for the 5.5 million Australians living with disability, and I look forward to seeing the ways that Australia’s arts and culture sectors can grow with greater participation of people with disability.”

Special Envoy for the Arts, Susan Templeman, said “Creativity is innate to everybody and access to cultural life for people with disability must be non-negotiable. Equity of access is about the right to be creative as well as the freedom to enjoy cultural experiences. 

“People with disability have an enormous contribution to make to the diversity, vitality and dynamism of our arts community and we cannot have a representative cultural sector without their full participation in it.

“I’m proud that the policy the Albanese Labor Government is delivering and the investments we are making will support greater equality of access in the future.”

CEO of Creative Australia, Adrian Collette, said “We welcome the announcement of Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan, a significant commitment by the Australian Government to support equity for Australian artists, arts workers and audiences with disability.

“Creative Australia is dedicated to ensuring our arts truly reflect us and are accessible to the many voices, perspectives, and experiences that make up our society. We look forward to working closely with the Government’s Office for the Arts to deliver on its plan for a more inclusive arts and cultural sector.”

More details on Equity can be found here.