Capitalising culture: Horsham regional art gallery's rural renaissance

On 30 October 1994, the Keating Government's Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport released what some (me) would consider one of the most significant political documents in the history of modern Australia - Creative Nation: Commonwealth Cultural Policy. In this document, Keating and staff presented a number of ambitious and radical ideas, namely: 'Australians are engaged in cultural activities that are helping to re-invent the national identity, and most Australians would agree on the need to enhance and enrich our culture. To achieve this, cultural policy must enter the mainstream of federal policy-making.' Ambitious. And radically the idea that: 'It [culture] attracts tourists and students. It is essential to our economic success.'