Budget a big test for Garrett in arts

Next week's budget will be Peter Garrett's first opportunity to demonstrate if Labor will deliver for the arts, as promised at election time.

The federal arts minister has raised the hopes of the sector by promising to raise the profile of arts on the government agenda.

Arts groups have welcomed Mr Garrett's enthusiasm but want to see him make good on Labor's $37 million worth of election promises.

National Visual Arts Association head Tamara Winikof said the budget is Mr Garrett's first big test in the portfolio.

"We are very keen to see what kind of commitments the government is going to make from the start, there is the expectation that commitments will be met," Ms Winikof told AAP.

"It's certainly the major indicator of whether the government is actually going to implement promises that it has set out in policy.

"We know Peter Garrett's heart is there but we need to now see practical demonstrations of that."

Arts groups will be hoping for greater details of policies, including the resale royalty scheme for visual and indigenous artists and the ArtStart program for artists coming in and out of paid work.

Labor also vowed during last year's federal election campaign to spend $17 million promoting Australian artists overseas, $7.6 million for Aboriginal Art centres and $2.4 million to boost the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project.

The government has already announced a $10 million funding boost for the Australia Council.

Mr Garrett told a meeting with state and territory cultural ministers earlier this year that all of the election commitments would be met but there would be some restraint in spending.

"We recognise that there will be a number of performing programs that will have to adjust ... to the financial prudence that we want to apply to spending at this point in time," Mr Garret said in late February.

Opposition arts spokeswoman Sharman Stone said there was an expectation on government to commit extra funding for the major performing arts groups.

She said organisations such as the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and the Australian National Academy of Music can only function effectively with long-term funding commitments, which have not been made.

"These organisations need to be assured they will not be cut," she says.

"This budget will clearly demonstrate whether Labor is serious about Australia's cultural life and the nurturing of our excellence and innovation in performing and visual arts."