Australia's 2026-27 Budget Allocates $1.1B to Arts, Sector Calls for Structural Reform
On May 12, Treasurer Jim Chalmers presented the Albanese Government's Federal Budget for 2026-27, which allocates $1.1 billion to the arts and cultural sector, including $22.9 million for new initiatives. Notable funding includes $10.1 million for repairs at the Australian National Maritime Museum's wharf, $9.9 million for nitrate film storage at the National Film and Sound Archive, and $3 million for centenary celebrations at Old Parliament House. The budget continues to support programs like Creative Australia and Indigenous arts. However, peak organizations have raised alarms about the unstable incomes of artists, with NAVA highlighting that federal arts spending per capita is at a record low, favoring infrastructure over individuals. Additionally, the budget makes the $20,000 instant asset write-off for small businesses permanent.
Key facts
- Budget tabled May 12, 2026 by Treasurer Jim Chalmers
- $1.1 billion total arts investment
- $22.9 million for new measures
- $10.1 million for Australian National Maritime Museum wharf repairs
- $9.9 million for National Film and Sound Archive nitrate storage redevelopment
- $3 million for Old Parliament House centenary
- $20,000 small business instant asset write-off made permanent
- NAVA, TNA, and Chamber of Arts and Culture WA issued responses
Entities
Artists
- Penelope Benton
- Amrit Gill
- Rick Heath
Institutions
- Albanese Government
- Australian National Maritime Museum
- National Film and Sound Archive
- Old Parliament House
- Creative Australia
- National Archives of Australia
- National Gallery of Australia
- National Library of Australia
- Australian Film, Television and Radio School
- Australian Ballet School
- Australian National Academy of Music
- Australian Youth Orchestra
- Flying Fruit Fly Circus
- NAISDA Dance College
- National Institute of Circus Arts
- National Institute of Dramatic Art
- Screen Australia
- Ausfilm
- Australian Children’s Television Foundation
- National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA)
- Theatre Network Australia (TNA)
- Chamber of Arts and Culture WA
- A New Approach
- ArtsHub
- National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
- Museum of Australian Democracy
- National Museum of Australia
- The Fox
- Melbourne Arts Precinct
- Aboriginal Cultural Centre
- Office for the Arts
- Music Australia
- Writing Australia
- First Nations Arts
- Creative Workplaces
- Regional Arts Fund
Locations
- Australia
- Canberra
- Darling Harbour
- Melbourne
- Perth
- Queensland
- Tasmania