CAUL contributes to GLAM Peak submission on New National Cultural Policy: Setting enduring foundations for how Australia cares for, shares, and reimagines its cultural heritage.
The Council of Australasian University Librarians (CAUL) is proud to support GLAM Peak’s official submission on a New National Cultural Policy, delivered in response to the Australian Government’s Public Consultation Paper in May 2026.
CAUL Board Chair, Kylie Percival, noted the strategic value of collecting institutions collaborating to advocate for the explicit recognition of Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM) as foundational national infrastructure within the new policy framework.
The submission highlights the critical role collecting institutions play in preserving Australia’s cultural memory, supporting First Nations self-determination through Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) protocols, and driving research and lifelong learning. It argues that the GLAM sector’s unique custodianship, spanning physical collections, digital repositories, and trusted data ecosystems, is essential to achieving the five pillars of the Government’s current Revive policy: First Nations First, A Place for Every Story, Centrality of the Artist, Strong Cultural Infrastructure, and Engaging the Audience.
‘University libraries are not just repositories of books; they are dynamic hubs of knowledge creation, cultural preservation, and community connection,’ said Kylie Percival. ‘This submission underscores the vital need for the new National Cultural Policy to formally recognise the GLAM sector’s contribution to truth-telling, education, and social cohesion. By integrating GLAM into the policy’s core, we can ensure a more resilient and inclusive cultural future for all Australians.’
The submission, representing 21 core member organisations including CAUL, calls for balanced investment in both creative production and custodianship, cross-portfolio alignment to leverage existing programs, and enhanced digital and data readiness to support AI-driven innovation.
CAUL remains committed to working alongside its GLAM Peak partners to advocate for a cultural policy that reflects the full scope of Australia’s cultural ecosystem.
Read the full GLAM Peak submission below.