Inquiry Into Australia's Indigenous Visual Arts

Introduction Report of the Contemporary Visual Arts and Craft Inquiry Introduction page 2 page 3 Introduction Report of the Contemporary Visual Arts and Craft Inquiry page 2 page 3 Introduction Disclaimer This report was developed for the Commonwealth by the Contemporary Visual Arts and Craft Inquiry. It draws on information, opinions and advice provided by a variety of individuals and organisations during the Inquiry. This report does not necessarily refl ect the views of the Commonwealth or indicate its commitment to a particular course of action. © Commonwealth of Australia 2002 ISBN 0 642 75095 5 Online ISBN 0 642 75101 5 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth available from the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to: The Commonwealth Copyright Administration Intellectual Property Branch Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts GPO Box 2154 Canberra ACT 2601 Telephone: 02 6271 1000 Facsimile: 02 6271 1800 Email: [email protected] Website: www.dcita.gov.au Produced by the Commonwealth Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. page II page III Introduction Transmittal Letter page II page III page IV page V CONTENTS Chairman’s preamble 1 Executive summary 5 Recommendations 11 Chapter 1 Introduction 21 Background 21 Terms of reference 21 Conduct of the Inquiry 22 Submissions 24 Structure of the Report 25 Implementation issues 26 Acknowledgments 27 Chapter 2 The contemporary visual arts and craft sector—an overview 29 Defi ning and measuring the sector 30 Nomenclature 30 Statistical limitations 31 Visual artists, crafts practitioners and artsworkers 32 Education and training 33 Infrastructure: key organisations and institutions 34 Audiences for contemporary visual arts and craft 36 Commercial market 37 Funding sources 38 Cultural diversity 42 Economic contribution of the contemporary visual arts and craft sector 42 Cultural and creative contribution 45 Guiding principles 55 page IV page V Chapter 3 Valuing artists 57 The visual artist and craft practitioner population 58 Artists’ incomes 59 Education and training 61 Graduates and emerging artists 73 Relationship between the artist and the commercial galleries 81 Artists’ fees, loan fees and exhibition fees 84 The individual artist and new technology 87 Funding for artists 92 Status of the artist 99 Professional status and taxation 106 Social security 114 The work environment for visual arts and craft practitioners 119 Insurance 126 Artists and intellectual property—copyright 130 Indigenous cultural and intellectual property 150 Resale royalty 158 Estate planning 171 Chapter 4 Strengthening the infrastructure 175 Contemporary arts organisations 176 Craft and design organisations 188 Art and craft centres 198 Artist-run initiatives 202 Major art museums 207 Regional galleries 210 University art galleries 214 Artists service organisations and associations 215 New technology 223 Art administrators and curators 227 page VI page VII Chapter 5 Expanding the market 233 Audiences for contemporary visual arts and craft 233 The commercial market 238 Promotion and access through touring 249 Major contemporary visual arts and craft events 261 International promotion and exchange 267 Promotion through Artbank 275 Contemporary art and craft writing and publishing 297 Special projects 285 Chapter 6 Resourcing the sector 291 Role of governments in supporting the contemporary visual arts and craft sector 291 Policy objectives and targeting by governments 293 Interrelationships, coordination, targeting and opportunities for new synergies 312 Private sector support 316 Broadening the funding base 328 Appendix A Biography of Rupert Myer 343 Appendix B Consultations and conferences 344 Appendix C Indigenous Reference Group 351 Appendix D Key references 352 Appendix E Submissions 369 Appendix F Glossary of acronyms 373 Appendix G Derivation of value added estimates for the contemporary visual arts and craft sector 374 Appendix H Tertiary institutions offering courses in visual arts and craft 378 Appendix I Types of insurance cover for visual artists and crafts practitioners, and arts organisations 380 Appendix J Resale royalty 382 Appendix K Key organisations in the contemporary visual arts and craft sector 388 Appendix L Australia Council and State and Territory government funding of the contemporary visual arts and craft sector, 1999–2000 397 Appendix M Overseas philanthropy 398 Appendix N Inquiry Secretariat 400 page VI page VII page VIII page 1 CHAIRMAN’S PREAMBLE This has been a timely Inquiry. It follows on from recent detailed reports and policy initiatives covering other arts sectors as well as a number of reports undertaken by the contemporary visual arts and craft sector. Many of the issues are complex and have required detailed analysis. Enthusiastic support for this Inquiry has ensured that the visual arts and craft communities have signifi cantly contributed to the future shape and direction of the sector as contemplated by this Report. In imagining the future, it is relevant to consider the development of the Australian fi lm industry, particularly over the last decade. After many years of strategic investment and planning, that industry is reaping the benefi ts of a healthy slate of local feature fi lms, television drama and other productions. Few now question the value of the public investment that has supported and continues to support this creative industry. We celebrate the success of both the industry and the individuals whose roles have contributed to the essence of our nation’s culture. Many of those individuals emphasise the importance of their professional training, access to opportunities to display their talents and the role of publicly funded investment as the key elements of this industry’s development. The associated benefi ts of employment opportunities, related economic and investment activity, tourism developments and the nurturing of our nation’s creative talents are widely discussed. The key to these observations is that they are relevant across the whole of the creative arts sector. The challenge is to maintain and develop a contemporary visual arts and craft sector bristling with vitality and built upon the multiple talents, imagination and commitment of independent artists and craft practitioners. With well-targeted cooperative public investment and a supportive legislative environment, the contemporary visual arts and craft sector can move rapidly to consolidate its current position and further evolve to become bolder and more inventive, providing greater opportunities for its participants. Such a vision requires well resourced organisations confi dent in their business models with managements committed to promoting artists and exciting audience responses. It is possible to imagine a future for the sector where artists and craft practitioners enjoy a higher status within the community, where they are faced with fewer economic uncertainties, where there are greater opportunities to exhibit and sell works of art and where the fi nancial and market success of their work is not taken as the sole measure of quality. It is also imaginable that effective advocacy for the sector, publication programs and on-going research and development with new creative disciplines would be valued activities. In such an environment, multiple pathways for artists to follow during their lives would involve ongoing formal and informal learning and skills development, mutually benefi cial interaction with the marketplace, audiences and their peers and greater access to publicly and privately funded project activities. The keen remembrance of generation old practices and policies would be replaced by an appreciable enthusiasm for new models of Commonwealth, State and Territory funding and a signifi cantly expanded role for private benefaction and sponsorship. page VIII page 1 Building on the strength of core government support, it is possible to imagine the sector well supported by an increasing number of private organisations and individual benefactors. In this scenario, there would be many prospective partnerships promoting Australia’s visual culture at signifi cant international events, bilateral exhibitions and events principally for local audiences. This Report proposes policies intended to increase the fi nancial support provided for individual artists and their supporting infrastructure from corporate sponsorship and private philanthropy. This is not intended as a substitute for government support but as a critical supplement. The successful implementation of new policy initiatives requires the sector to respond with an energetic view of itself and its own potential. The possibilities for such an energised future are already evident in many of the current trends. Throughout its consultations around the country, the Inquiry observed the sector’s vibrancy and sophistication. It is also clear that the participants have a strong will to contribute to the sector’s successful development. The growth of the demand for tertiary arts courses, the cultural and commercial appreciation of Indigenous art and the developments in copyright and moral rights contribute to this observation. In addition, capital investment in infrastructure across metropolitan and regional centres, increased

Load more