Strengthening arts and cultural philanthropy: PA’s submission to the Australian Parliament’s committee inquiry 

Philanthropy Australia (PA) has made a submission to the Australian Parliament’s Inquiry into Arts and Cultural Philanthropy, which is examining opportunities to grow philanthropic support for arts and culture. 

Read Philanthropy Australia’s submission to the Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport. 

PA’s submission affirms the fundamental role arts and culture play in shaping a dynamic, inclusive and reflective society. Stable and predictable government funding is an important bedrock for arts and culture, complemented by philanthropic giving that can provide additional support for innovation and diversity. 

To provide greater clarity on the different roles of government and philanthropic support for arts and culture, the submission recommends that the Australian Government work with stakeholders to develop a public statement outlining these respective roles. This could enable more strategic collaboration in priority areas, in support of the objectives of Revive: Australia’s Cultural Policy. 

The submission highlights the importance of coherent and enabling policy settings for philanthropy more broadly, calling on the Government to prioritise implementation of recommendations from the Productivity Commission’s Future Foundations for Giving report, including reform of the Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) system. 

To grow bequest giving towards arts and culture, at no cost to the Federal Budget, the submission recommends that the Government make it easier for people to make bequests from their excess superannuation. 

Finally, PA’s contribution emphasises the importance of capacity building, strongly supporting continued resourcing for Creative Australia’s work equipping arts and cultural organisations with the skills, tools and networks to engage effectively with philanthropic supporters.  

All submissions can be viewed on the inquiry’s website, and it is expected that further public hearings will be taking place.  

PA will continue to engage with the inquiry and will keep our members informed of further developments. If members have any questions about the inquiry, they should contact PA’s Executive Director, Policy and Sector Development, Krystian Seibert. 

Main image: Savannah Jarvis, ‘Surgical Fantasies’ (2023). Outer Space Exhibition Opening. Photo by Louis Lim