The Tasmanian Greens are committed to a community where the creative enterprises are supported and where participation in, and enjoyment of, creative activities is encouraged and promoted.

The Arts are essential for the enrichment - and, in many cases, the fulfilment - of our lives. They provide an opportunity for creative expression and empowerment, building a rich and dynamic sense of community which celebrates our relationship with the environment and each other. In acknowledging freedom of artistic expression, the Greens recognise that the Arts articulate insights into our environmental, social, cultural and economic values.

We continue to encourage innovative ideas, performances and artworks, increase the opportunity of individuals to strive for excellence, and support the exploration by artists of our creative, spiritual and intellectual interconnectedness.

The Greens also believe that creative talent is an important resource. Many more Tasmanians are employed in professional artistic pursuits in comparison to resource extraction. Grants to the Arts in Tasmania amount to a fraction of the real cost to the community of subsidised heavy industries, and the subsequent resource depletion and pollution from those industries. The Arts provide one way of restructuring the economy through jobs that are sustainable and are integral to Tasmania’s clean, green, clever economy.  The Greens are committed to the transformation of these activities into satisfying, sustainable work and into viable businesses enterprises, where possible. However, we recognise that a policy which provides financial and infrastructure support for creative endeavour must also maintain freedom from constraint by government and industry.

Measures:

Society and Culture: preserve and promote what is of both ancient and modern significance as a holistic approach to understanding Tasmania’s present culture; strengthen the Arts as a vibrant sector in our society; promote Arts industries as a source of employment; support Aboriginal and ethnic Arts as an expression of the cultural richness of Tasmanian society; ensure the continued existence of a resident professional symphony orchestra as essential to the community life of Tasmania; provide and maintain incentives and support for innovative and experimental projects and projects with special significance in re-building and re-enforcing the identity of particular communities; encourage the involvement of local art and design in all aspects of Tasmanian development; encourage creativity in schools, at work, and in leisure; identify and coordinate through consultation with artists and the community, those areas needing major support and development in specific art forms throughout the state

The Economy: provide resources, infrastructure and training to support all Arts disciplines; support professional development for artists to examine and promote the commercial potential of their industry; support the furniture and craft industry and create special zones for specialty timbers on a long rotation, high value-added, low volume-selection basis outside high conservation value areas; create an independent, viable, local publishing industry to foster a Tasmanian literary culture, funded through sales but with state support, run as an incorporated body

Excellence and Innovation: organise public and corporate support for competitions, scholarships, prizes, awards, honours, exhibitions, galas and festivals appropriate to diverse art forms and particular communities; work with the local and national film, television and radio institutes to make training available in this state; strengthen intellectual property rights of artists

Promotion and Marketing: provide specific opportunities for young people and for emerging artists; develop strategies to promote outstanding work to patrons, audiences and markets locally, interstate and overseas; continue the 10 Days on the Island Festival funding from the government Arts portfolio, but with further private sponsorship to meet clean, green criteria and community and artists expectations

Education: ensure that the state curriculum does not erode the importance of the Arts in comparison to other learning areas, and that its integrity is not undermined; promote specific schemes where the talents and skills of disabled artists, musicians, performers and writers are valued