Australia’s social cohesion is being tested by domestic and global challenges. Evidence shows that cultural and creative engagement can help. But not all governments in Australia explicitly pursue social cohesion through cultural policy, and most policy focused on social cohesion does not integrate cultural and creative engagement. 

This paper provides a resource for people and organisations looking for policy initiatives that can bring and keep people together through arts and culture. It combines previous research insights with an analysis of Australian and international policies that are leveraging cultural and creative engagement to connect communities and foster belonging and trust. 

The paper identifies gaps in current policies and outlines steps that governments should take so that cultural and creative engagement can play its part in rebuilding cohesion in Australia. It presents case studies of policies leveraging specific arts and culture projects to strengthen cohesion.

Findings

1. Cultural policies do not consistently pursue cohesion.
2. Only some policies pursuing cohesion leverage arts and culture.
3. There’s more scope for arts and culture to support cohesion among young people.