Dozens of artists, musicians and performers rallied in Civic Square to call on the government to set aside at least $1.25 million in the upcoming ACT budget for arts project funding, an increase of $500,000.

However Mr Ramsay said work was already underway to bolster funding for Canberra's arts community as promised by ACT Labor before last October's election.

While "the precise amount would be subject to budget consideration", Mr Ramsay said it would be the "single biggest funding increase in ACT self-government history".

But composer Michael Sollis said the arts community was determined to hold the government to account, given the quiet cut to arts project funding last year.

In December, it was announced 14 projects would share in about $250,000 of funding through artsACT in 2017, compared to about $730,000 in 2016.

But in February, Mr Ramsay almost doubled the funding pool in response to community outcry.

"The arts minister has been incredibly responsive so far, he did increase the funding that was cut to 66 per cent of the funding it originally was but it's about establishing a consultative process so artists can inform the government and the community can inform the government of what the sector needs," Mr Sollis said.

"We would particularly like [the government] to look at reintroducing the advisory panel. In 2010 the Loxton report that was commissioned by the ACT government suggested there needed to be a ministerial advisory committee that gave policy advice and we believe that mechanism is integral to making sure that we are delivering resources in the most effective way."

The sector is petitioning the government to set up this arts ministerial advisory board by the start of September.

Mr Ramsay said the government was already looking at the best ways to consult the community.

Mr Sollis said most Canberrans were acutely aware of the value of the arts.

"The reality is if we did not have public funding for the arts we wouldn't have the National Gallery of Australia, we wouldn't have a National Museum of Australia, we wouldn't have events such as the Canberra Symphony Orchestra playing tonight and we wouldn't have the opportunity for local artists to paint the picture of Canberra through music, dance, literature, film and visual arts," Mr Sollis said.

"The support for the arts is one small component the government provides and it's essential for the entire ecosystem of the Canberra arts scene."

Artist Shags said Canberrans wanted their city to be vibrant but failed to realise how much the arts contributed to that.

"People are happy to consume art but they're not happy to pay for it," she said.

You can sign the petition at canberraplusarts.com.