Call for Australian art, culture to be promoted abroad

It could be similar to the Alliance française or the Japan Foundation, he suggested, with research needed to determine what model would work.

The institution would need to be well funded to lead Australia's international cultural relations, Mr Myer said.

He also urged national cabinet to work more closely to promote creativity and culture, by upgrading regular meetings of cultural ministers to a formalised council reporting to the cabinet.

"This elevation would be a transformative step to give higher priority to the nation's cultural needs," he said.

The council should develop a long term plan to promote arts and culture across different levels of government over the next several decades.

Mr Myer chairs the arts and culture think tank A New Approach and is president of The Myer Foundation, and has previously chaired the National Gallery of Australia and the Australia Council, now known as Creative Australia.