{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreibpz6pnkdfulm7z5bzon7dn7k3nlvbul45uyhyljfvgpb5pbfnhcm",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:7ezwhs73p2cf5qxubpfrrs3x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhuptbiz6cs2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreihwk3nnr7e6gab6ysx5eozrro2cwpesawugb7pgeseuip4mohmx4m"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/png",
    "size": 186383
  },
  "description": "There was so much that happened this week! Australia is developing its next National Cultural Policy, strategies to get Australians reading recreationally were suggested, Anthropic shared results from its massive open ended survey and more.",
  "path": "/wtf-now-27/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-25T08:56:38.000Z",
  "site": "https://elliottbledsoe.wtf",
  "tags": [
    "Let me know",
    "WTF now?!",
    "Free membership",
    "Shoot through",
    "made on X today",
    "shared an update",
    "Open Access Policy",
    "Flickr Commons",
    "started consultation",
    "next National Cultural Policy",
    "joint media release",
    "Subscribe now"
  ],
  "textContent": "Arts Minister Tony Burke has opened consultation for the next National Cultural Policy. It is intended that the new policy will build on _Revive_ , the current cultural policy, including carrying its five pillars forward. Burke wants to know where the gaps are in _Revive_ and what emerging opportunities and issues have come up since it was released.\n\nAlso arts and culture related, Creative Australia and Australia Reads have published _Reaching Australian readers_, research identifying reading behaviours in Australians and strategies to boost recreational reading. And music streaming platforms Spotify and Apple Music are doing more to encourage live music attendance. Spotify has also launched SongDNA, an interactive way to explore the creative connections between music – collaborators, samples and covers.\n\nAnthropic has put out analysis of responses to a massive global survey Claude conducted which saw more than 80,000 people respond. It found that a primary driver for AI use is increased productivity to reclaim ‘me time’ and ‘family time’. The research looks at people’s hopes for and concerns with AI, which often present as coexisting tensions, where the capabilities that generate hope, such as time-saving and learning, also produce fears like illusory productivity and cognitive atrophy.\n\nThis week we also saw the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ban all foreign-made routers over national security concerns. And there were even more acquisitions of AI companies by Big Tech companies.\n\nAnd if you are still with me, the bit on the side this week includes a new AI and copyright court case by Encyclopaedia Britannica and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary against ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) says political favours won’t fast track the Paramount–Warner Bros. merger and AI device maker Rabbit is keen to make an coding-focused low-end PC.\n\nOh, I am also testing a new rapid-fire section at the start of the newsletter for very quick news. Let me know what you think of it.\n\nDon't just read the introduction. Free members can read the entire weekly WTF now?! round-up. Sign up and keep reading.\n\n\n                            Free membership\n                        \n\n* * *\n\n## Rapid-fire\n\nA short list of other things:\n\n  * Alison Dellit is the new Director-General of the National Library of Australia (NLA). Also Esther Anatolitis joins the National Museum of Australia Council. Congratulations to both! Shoot through\n  * OpenAI is shutting down its AI short-form video social media app Sora. The announcement was made on X today. It is interesting timing given they shared an update about safety on the platform just two days ago. Shoot through\n  * State Library Victoria's acting CEO John Wicks is joining the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) as Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer and Wayne Tunnicliffe has been appointed Director of Collections and Exhibitions. Shoot through\n  * Queensland craft and design peak artisan has set up shop in its new home at the State Library of Queensland (SLQ). Shoot through\n  * The Australian Government is consulting on proposed changes to the National Classification Scheme. Submissions close on Monday 4 May 2026. Shoot through\n  * The Australian Research Council (ARC) have updated their Open Access Policy, including new requirements for research conducted with, by or for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. The new policy takes effect on Wednesday 1 July 2026. Shoot through\n  * Flickr Foundation faces funding concerns and is reducing its programs to focus solely on Flickr Commons. Shoot through\n\n\n\n* * *\n\n## What’s been going on?\n\nHere's WTF happened this week:\n\n### Consultation for the next National Cultural Policy has started\n\nTL;DR\nThe Australian Government is seeking public input into the next National Cultural Policy. Building off the enduring pillars in the current policy, _Revive_ , the government seeks views on the challenges and opportunities for each pillar, why the pillars matter and what should be included in the next policy.\n\nWe are three years into the five-year National Cultural Policy, _Revive_ , and the Australian Government has started consultation to support the development of our next National Cultural Policy. In a joint media release put out on Monday, Arts Minister Tony Burke and Special Envoy for the Arts Susan Templeman said the new policy is designed to build on _Revive_. It will also respond to gaps in that policy and to emerging priorities and opportunities that have come up since it was released. And the new policy will provide a ‘clear framework to support a vibrant and sustainable cultural future.’ The new cultural policy also aims to set future direction for supporting creativity, cultural expression and arts participation.\n\n### This post is for subscribers only\n\nBecome a member to get access to all content\n\nSubscribe now",
  "title": "WTF now?! #27 – Thursday 19–Wednesday 25 March 2026",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-20T07:37:17.763Z"
}