Rupert Myer says an institution is needed to represent Australian arts and culture to the world. -AAP Image
A single institution is needed to represent Australian arts and culture to the rest of the world, according to businessman and philanthropist Rupert Myer.
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Out of the top 15 world economies, Australia is the only nation that lacks such an institution, Mr Myer said in a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.
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.
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