Federal Budget

Australia’s visual arts sector will be hugely relieved today with the news contained in the Federal Budget that $24.7 million has been allocated over the next four years to continue support for the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, with indexation being added from year 2. It is expected that state & territory governments will continue their matching contribution. There is also support to assist artists to take advantage of international opportunities. However, disappointingly, the extra $3 million sought for artists’ fees and $1 million for IT development has not been supported, leaving the problem of falling levels of artists’ incomes still to be addressed and the continuing challenge of lack of access to technology for artists and art spaces. Next stop the election. NAVA’s lobbying for various proposed strategies will continue.

read NAVA's Media Release