Work for Artists

Most Australian artists and craftspeople operate their art practice under a sole trader business model. This model may mean working across a number of employment options including time working as a studio artist, accepting commissions or short term assignments, working as an artist-in-residence, developing concepts that require grant funding, licensing intellectual property, developing manufacturing or multiple production concepts and creating work for exhibitions, awards and other professional opportunities.

Under useful links we have listed a number of places that artists in Australia commonly check for art specific job opportunities. Many art organisations and state/territory arts departments also list job opportunities on their websites and in their journals and e-bulletins. Some of these you can access for free, for others you need to be a member. Australia also has a few art employment agencies. One is Artworkers in Queensland and another is ArtSource in Western Australia. These organisations also offer resources that assist artists to use their skills to find work eg advice on how to approach the challenge of a public art commission. Arts@Work in Tasmania also operates a website with employment opportunities.

Some job opportunities are advertised through the usual print advertising avenues ie daily newspapers and art, and related industries like architecture, specialist journals.

Under NAVA Resources we have listed some of the resources NAVA provides to assist artists to navigate the issues that can arise in relation to particular ways of working as an artist. The Arts Law Centre of Australia and the Australian Copyright Council also provide useful information such as sample contracts and copyright fact sheets.

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 Useful links
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• Art Monthly
• Arts Hub
• arts@work
• Artsource
• Artworkers
•  art + place | Queensland Public Art Fund
• The Australian
• Artfiles

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 NAVA Resources
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Becoming a Sole Trader. Edition: 2009 1st Edition. This booklet looks at common business requirements and how they relate to a practitioner who decides to operate his/her visual art, craft or design practice as a Sole Trader. Purchase it here.

Taxation. 2009 1st Edition. Being in any kind of business means being obliged to deal with tax issues. Being on top of these issues right from the start can save you from nasty surprises that have the potential to undermine your practice. Purchase it here.

Chapter 3: Commissioning. The Code of Practice for the Professional Australian Visual Arts, Craft and Design Sector, 3rd edition, 2009.

Chapter 4: Residencies and Workshops. The Code of Practice for the Professional Australian Visual Arts, Craft and Design Sector, 3rd edition, 2009.

Chapter 6: Fees and Wages of the The Code of Practice for the Professional Australian Visual Arts, Craft and Design Sector, 3rd edition, 2009.  

The Code of Practice for the Professional Australian Visual Arts, Craft and Design Sector is the national best practice standard for the sector. Purchase the full publication here.

Money for Visual Artists.
NAVA’s guide to awards, prizes and professional development opportunities for Australian artists. Purchase it here.