Kate Fielding CEO of A New Approach – Australia’s leading arts and culture think tank – unpacked ANA’s latest research and discuss ways the arts and cultural industries can prepare for the upcoming Federal Election.

The Next Generation of Voters report provides current insights into the attitudes and beliefs held by ‘young middle Australians’ towards arts and cultural engagement and the role it plays in their lives.

It includes the findings of a national focus group study of 18–29-year-old ‘undecided voters’ from lower- and middle-income families, predominantly living in outer suburbs, regional areas, and federal marginal electorates.

The findings highlight that young middle Australians see arts and culture as central to their lives.

They describe their engagement with arts and culture as inseparable from their other everyday activities.

They don’t associate arts and culture with elitism – they see it as integral to a full and rounded life. As such, arts and culture will play an increasingly critical role in shaping our nation’s future direction.

Kate was joined by Wesley Enoch, who facilitated this event. Wesley was recently  appointed to the inaugural Indigenous Chair in the Creative Industries at QUT, and previously held roles as Artistic Director of the Sydney Festival from 2017 to 2020 along with  the Artistic Director at Kooemba Jdarra Indigenous Performing Arts and the Ilbijerri Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Theatre Co-operative. Wesley’s other residencies include Resident Director at Sydney Theatre Company; Associate Artistic Director at Belvoir Street Theatre; the 2002 Australia Council Cite Internationale des Arts Residency in Paris and the Australia Council Artistic Director for the Australian Delegation to the 2008 Festival of Pacific Arts. He was creative consultant, segment director and indigenous consultant for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.