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.
In the Links Box 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.
NAVA Resources:
Becoming a Sole Trader. Common business requirements and how they relate to you as an arts practitioner.
Published by NAVA, 2006 Edition, 10 pages.
Buy the publication.
Taxation and the Visual Arts and Craft. A guide to help you navigate the tax system and fulfill your requirements as an artist in business.
Published by NAVA, 10 pages, 2004 edition.
Buy the publication.
A Guideline for Preparing Grant Applications. What you need to know before writing an application to a funding body.
Published by NAVA, 8 pages, 2004 edition.
Buy the publication.
E-commerce and E-marketing.
Issues relating to developing a website or online commerce facility for your business.
Published by NAVA, 2006 edition. 8 pages.
Buy the publication.
Visual Artists as Copyright Owners and Users. An introduction to copyright law, and advice on how to most benefit from your copyright.
Published by NAVA, 12 pages, 2004 edition.
Buy the publication.
Commissioning: Public Art Commissioning and Special Purpose Commissioning. Chapter 2 of the NAVA Code of Practice, 2nd edition, 2004.
ISBN 0 9751929 0 6.
Read the Chapter.
Buy the publication.
Residencies and Workshops, Chapter 3. NAVA Code of Practice, 2nd edition, 2004. ISBN 0 9751929 0 6.
Read the Chapter.
Buy the publication.
Fees and Wages. Chapter 5 of the NAVA Code of Practice, 2nd edition, 2004.
ISBN 0 9751929 0 6
Read the Chapter.
Buy the publication.
Money for Visual Artists.
NAVA’s guide to awards, prizes and professional development opportunities for Australian artists. 8th edition 2006-7, published 2006, 96 pages. ISBN 0 9751929 2 2.
Buy the publication.
