100 signatures reached
To: Victorian Minister for Creative Industries Vicki Ward, and all candidates for the 2026 Victorian election
DON'T BREAK OUR ARTS! Restore funding to Victoria's arts and culture
DON’T BREAK OUR ARTS!
The arts and culture in Victoria are in crisis.
Public funding for the most important part of Victoria’s arts and cultural sector has fallen by 35% in real terms over the past five years. The government is investing less into our artists and small organisations than a decade ago, after inflation and despite population growth. We can’t keep up with costs.
Organisations are closing. Artists are losing work. Audiences are becoming disconnected.
Ahead of the November state election, we call for all political parties and candidates to commit to restoring funding and investment to the Victorian arts sector.
The arts and culture in Victoria are in crisis.
Public funding for the most important part of Victoria’s arts and cultural sector has fallen by 35% in real terms over the past five years. The government is investing less into our artists and small organisations than a decade ago, after inflation and despite population growth. We can’t keep up with costs.
Organisations are closing. Artists are losing work. Audiences are becoming disconnected.
Ahead of the November state election, we call for all political parties and candidates to commit to restoring funding and investment to the Victorian arts sector.
We call for the 2025 funding cuts to be restored to the smaller cultural organisations and independent artists that contribute the most to Victorian’s arts and culture. We also call for all parties and candidates to make further investments, so that all Victorians can enjoy the benefits of a thriving cultural community.
At least $60 million in new funding is required.
At least $60 million in new funding is required.
Victorians are proud of our art and culture. Don’t break our arts.
We call on all parties and candidates to commit to:
We call on all parties and candidates to commit to:
- Restore Creative Victoria’s ‘Access, Development and Innovation’ investment to its pre-pandemic funding levels in real terms, an increase of approximately $30 million per year.
- Above this restoration, back the ambition of Victorian artists and arts organisations who make up the engine of our sector with an additional $30 million per year. This $60 million per year represents 0.053% of the Victorian government budget.
- Index Victorian arts and cultural funding to CPI and population growth, so it cannot again be eroded through cuts or inaction.
- Strengthen multi-year and arts project funding with transparent, arm's-length peer assessment.
- Provide immediate emergency support for the organisations defunded or given sunset agreements in the most recent December round of the Creative Enterprises Program.
- Directly support more artists with funding to make new work.
- Restore Victoria's cultural leadership through a renewed, whole-of-government commitment to the arts and culture in our state.
Why is this important?
Victorians love the arts and culture. A 2024 government report found that 99% of Victorians aged 15 years or over engage in creative and artistic events; millions of Victorians enjoy cultural experiences each year. Before the pandemic, Melbourne had more live music venues per capita than any city in the world.
The arts and culture are a fundamental part of Victoria's economic, social and cultural life, and the wellbeing of Victorian citizens. The Parliament’s 2025 Inquiry into Victoria’s Creative Industries found that the sector contributed $40.5 billion to the Victorian economy in 2022–23 and supported approximately 320,000 jobs, representing almost 9 per cent of total employment.
The arts and culture are a fundamental part of Victoria's economic, social and cultural life, and the wellbeing of Victorian citizens. The Parliament’s 2025 Inquiry into Victoria’s Creative Industries found that the sector contributed $40.5 billion to the Victorian economy in 2022–23 and supported approximately 320,000 jobs, representing almost 9 per cent of total employment.
But our status as Australia’s cultural capital is in jeopardy. Victoria now ranks as the second lowest of all states and territories in terms of per capita arts investment.
These cuts affect us all. Direct support to artists, musicians, actors, authors, playwrights and more has fallen away. Many are leaving the sector.
In December 2025, eight Victorian arts organisations lost their operational funding outright. Many more had their funding slashed. Organisations who suffered inclued Australian Print Workshop, ending a state investment of 44 years; the Abbotsford Convent Foundation, leaving an $800,000 shortfall at the largest multi-arts precinct in the country; Writers Victoria, whose closure would leave Victoria the only mainland state or territory without a peak body for writers in a UNESCO City of Literature; and the Public Galleries Association of Victoria, which advocates for and serves the professional development of public galleries across the state.
These cuts affect us all. Direct support to artists, musicians, actors, authors, playwrights and more has fallen away. Many are leaving the sector.
In December 2025, eight Victorian arts organisations lost their operational funding outright. Many more had their funding slashed. Organisations who suffered inclued Australian Print Workshop, ending a state investment of 44 years; the Abbotsford Convent Foundation, leaving an $800,000 shortfall at the largest multi-arts precinct in the country; Writers Victoria, whose closure would leave Victoria the only mainland state or territory without a peak body for writers in a UNESCO City of Literature; and the Public Galleries Association of Victoria, which advocates for and serves the professional development of public galleries across the state.
In 2020, the Victorian government announced that the state’s reputation as the nations’ cultural capital would be “permanently cemented”. The budget papers tell a different story. Arts funding is falling in real terms.
Victoria’s cultural standing was built through decades of consistent investment and community building. It’s a rich tapestry woven by the vision of our artists, the commitment of our arts organisations and artsworkers, and the passion of our audiences.
Under current government policies, that legacy risks being lost.
We call for funding to be restored and increased to Victoria's artists and cultural organisations. We call for all parties and candidates to commit to investing in Victorian culture, so that all Victorians can enjoy the benefits of a thriving cultural community.
Victorians are proud of our art and culture. Don’t break our arts.
How it will be delivered
In person to Minister Vicki Ward
Digitally to all Victorian parties standing candidates in the 2026 Victorian election