Victorian Government launches new creative industries strategy

The Victorian Government has launched Creative State 2025 - its new four-year plan, developed with input from many across the State’s creative community.

Supported with a $288 million investment, Creative State 2025 sets out 25 actions to stabilise and grow Victoria’s creative industries, creating jobs and opportunities for Victoria’s 300,000-strong creative workforce.

Creative State 2025 builds on the achievements of the Victorian Government’s Creative State (2016-20) strategy, while tackling issues that have emerged from, or been exacerbated by, the COVID-19 pandemic – issues such as unstable, project-based work, and limited access to training and business development support.

Included in the strategy are actions to develop and promote First Peoples leadership in the creative industries and actions to strengthen regional and outer-metropolitan touring. It supports Victoria’s film, TV and digital games sectors, as well as the state’s contemporary music sector, and includes actions to assist the growth of creative hubs.

The strategy will be delivered in collaboration with Creative Victoria’s First Peoples Directions Circle, a group established in 2019 that embeds - for the first time - First Peoples self-determination in Victoria’s creative industries policy and program development.

The new strategy will underpin the creation of 60,000 new project jobs, skilling-up and diversifying the workforce, while ensuring Victorians can access and benefit from Victoria’s rich creative offerings.

Creative Victoria Chief Executive, Andrew Abbott notes “as we continue to face the challenges of the pandemic, and adjust to an uncertain and changed local and global environment, this strategy backs Victorian creativity and those who make our creative industries – and our cultural life – tick.

“It’s about ensuring our creative workers, enterprises, and industries can not only recover, but thrive.

“We commenced work on this strategy in a pre-pandemic world, and have worked closely with our sector colleagues to understand the evolving needs, challenges and opportunities facing Victoria’s creative industries.

“We thank everyone who has been part of this process – with a special shout out to the Creative Victoria First Peoples Directions Circle and the Creative Industries Advisory Group.”

Delivery of Creative State 2025 begins now with the launch of two new multi-year investment programs, the Creative Enterprises Program (Action 11) and the Creative Ventures Program (Action 10).

For more information go to creative.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/552832/Creative-State-2025.pdf