2019 ANNUAL REPORT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE VISUAL ARTS (NAVA) ANNUAL REPORT 2019

NAVA leads advocacy, policy and action for CONTENTS an Australian contemporary arts sector that’s ambitious and fair. Reflecting on 2019 2 Through the Code of Practice for the Professional Australian Visual Arts, Media, Craft and Design ARTIST FOCUS Sector, we set national best practice standards Membership 3 for the contemporary arts industry. Professional Development 4 Artistic Leadership 5 Our vision – that artistic courage ignites Australian culture – drives everything we do. INDUSTRY FOCUS Code of Practice 7 Cross-Sector Partnerships 7 The National Association for the Visual Arts Industry Leadership 8 (NAVA) acknowledges the Gadigal peoples of the Eora Nation where our office is located and all Custodians of Country throughout all lands, PUBLIC FOCUS Policy Development 10 waters and territories. Their sovereignty has never been ceded. We pay our respects to the Public Engagement 10 Elders past, present and future. Cultural Leadership 11

The words “Aboriginal and Torres Strait ABOUT NAVA 12 Islander’, ‘Blak’, ‘Indigenous’, ‘First Nations’ Our board 13 and ‘First Peoples’, are used interchangeably Staff 14 in this report to refer to both Aboriginal and Acknowledgements 14 Torres Strait Islanders, and global First Nations artists in the Australian arts and culture sector. 2019 Financial Report 15 NAVA understands the complexities in the use of these words and that some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples may not be comfortable with some of these words. We would like to make known that only the deepest respect is intended in the use of these terms.

The National Association for the Visual Arts in partnership with First Nations peoples across is working to position First Nations living cultures, practices, stories and knowledges at the core of our practice.

Front Cover Image: Shivanjani Lal, Palwaar, install shot for Create NSW Visual Arts Emerging Fellowship 2019. Photo by Zan Wimberley. Aunty Matilda House at NAVA’s Arts Day on the Hill, Parliament House, , 2019. Photo by Irene Dowdy. 1 REFLECTING ON 2019

Throughout 2019, NAVA achieved significant Because in the absence of a bipartisan approach national impact on behalf of our Members, while to arts and cultural policy, we need to work hard maintaining a close focus on all aspects of our on the frameworks that achieve what such a policy Members’ work. needs to achieve by focusing strategic priorities and informing decision-makers. At the same time, The year’s state and federal elections and multi- our work in starting to review the Code of Practice year funding deadlines focused our advocacy on strengthens the collegiate relationships that inform the very big picture. We co-presented the national and uphold that framework for the benefit of every- symposium Australian Cultural Policy: The Next one who works in our field. More on that early in Decade with Monash University Masters of the new year. Cultural & Creative Industries. With the Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA), The launch of Clear Expectations: Guidelines for we presented a national roundtable on advocacy institutions, galleries and curators working with priorities in Canberra, with ACDC (Australian Craft trans, non-binary and gender diverse artists in and Design Centres), artist-run initiatives network Australia by Spence Messih and Archie Barry, and All Conference, CAAMD (Council of Australian Art the launch of the latest Countess Report, have been Museum Directors), CAMD (Council of Australian highlights in this regard. This important Museum Directors), CAOA (Contemporary Arts artist-driven work has nation-changing impacts Organisations Australia), Copyright Agency and NAVA is proud to support it. These cultural (formerly Viscopy), GLAM Peak (Galleries, Libraries, impacts are felt not just in the arts but across so Archives and Museums), and ICOM Australia many communities and sectors. (International Council of Museums), with written contributions from Arts Law and Artists in the Once again, NAVA’s work has also extended Black. We also updated our Advocacy Toolkit beyond the arts for the benefit of our Members: and released our Election Report Cards to guide the artists, artsworkers and organisations who well-distributed advocacy across the country, constitute the contemporary arts in Australia. and launched Arts Agenda to help policy-makers, This year we ensured that the voice of Members journalists and academics connect with current was heard through our government submissions research and advocacy in our field. and public engagement on a range of urgent matters including mental health, productivity, And then, to welcome the new government and copyright, and the future of democracy. This reset the national conversation, we presented work strengthens cohesion, overcomes isolation the first Arts Day on the Hill in Canberra with All and build foundations for future collaborations, Conference, Asialink Arts, Arts Access Australia, ensuring that the arts voice is heard where it Australian Museums & Galleries Association, needs to be heard. Diversity Arts Australia, Live Performance Australia, Performing Arts Connections For every Membership organisation, just as for Australia and Regional Arts Australia, plus every community, there’s strength in numbers. workshops by Museum of Australian Democracy, We were delighted to welcome a great many new Parliament House, the International Federation of Members in 2019, and to welcome back many Arts Councils & Culture Agencies and Regional more. Your commitment inspires our dedication. Arts Australia. We trained and supported an ad- There’s so much good work to be done together. vocate from every state and territory to take that advocacy to the next level, and we also launched a Parliamentary Friendship Group for Contemporary James Emmett Esther Anatolitis Arts & Culture with parliamentarians from across Chair Executive Director all key parties. Esther Anatolitis and James Emmett. Stephen Bush, Tupelo, 2010 & Lure of Paris, 2017. Photo by Penelope Benton. 2 ARTIST FOCUS NAVA strengthens artists’ capacity to develop and sustain their practice.

MEMBERSHIP Advice In 2019, NAVA responded to approximately 425 The artists who founded and inspire NAVA are requests per month for advice from artists, arts the driving force of Australia’s contemporary arts. organisations and others in the arts sector. This NAVA has reoriented our work, extended our reach was an approximate increase of 18% on last year. and deepened our impact. A NAVA Membership makes a strong commitment to your professional Disputes practice. In turn, NAVA makes important commit- The bulk of NAVA’s work in this area is behind-the- ments to its Members to: amplify your voice, scenes, supporting artists in advocating their rights develop your practice and strengthen your sector. and negotiating their working conditions. In 2019, NAVA assisted 62 Members experiencing difficul- Insurance ties in relation to having their rights respected in NAVA Premium Plus Membership provides seven line with regulation and best practice standards. types of heavily discounted insurance exclusively That’s more than one a week. Disputes included: for professional visual artists, curators, installers, • The censorship of an artist’s work where the registrars, conservators and arts administrators. work was removed from the exhibition due to a • Public liability campaign by a local politician. • Products liability • Non-payment of artist fees, damage and loss of • Professional indemnity extension work, and multiple other issues affecting many • Property in custody or control NAVA Members. • Tenants liability • Action on behalf of 32 artists owed money by a • Personal accident failed event that refused to honour contracted artists’ fees. Both Premium and Premium Plus members can • Multiple situations where communications and access discounted transit and exhibition insurance contracts have been unclear or non-existent for your artwork. which has created disputes between the two parties. Industry Discounts • Multiple situations where organisations were NAVA Members receive discounts with a range of advertising ‘opportunities’ that were not in line organisations across the sector: with best practice. This resulted in the NAVA • Discounted entry to paying exhibitions at major No-Nos which aim to educate both organisa- galleries around Australia tions and artists on best practice in relation to • A 10% discount at Eckersley’s Art and Craft copyright, moral rights, EOIs and artist fees. stores • Discounted subscriptions to Artlink and Eyeline Membership and Communications Team magazines Three casual staff were brought on to assist with • Discounts on NAVA Online Courses and the increase in Members and calls for assistance. merchandise Tanushri Saha, Naomi Segal and Soo-Min Shim were also actively involved in developing and Membership Growth delivering a number of public programs including In 2019, NAVA Premium Plus Members grew by the monthly email NAVA News, Artist Files, NAVA: 8% and Organisation Members by over 21%. At the in conversation podcast series, and participatory end of October, our Membership numbers were the forums What’s fair? at Firstdraft and Developing highest they’ve been in the organisation’s 36-year Arts Criticism at Pari. history, which also accounts for more than 56% of our total income. NAVA Artist File: Nasim Nasr. Photo by Anna Kucera. 3 ARTIST FOCUS NAVA strengthens artists’ capacity to develop and sustain their practice.

At the end of June he was offered a full-time role at PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGNSW and unfortunately left NAVA. Wesley was Developing your practice is a key commitment that succeeded by artist Justine Youssef in our reframed NAVA makes to its Members. Professional Practice Coordinator role. Justine’s practice is site-responsive and attentive to her origins in South-West Asia. She is currently NAVA Guides and Factsheets In 2019, NAVA published 25 new guides and fact- participating in the Parramatta Artist Studios sheets on a number of topics including self-care studio program, and is also a founding co-director and wellbeing, tax assessable income and of Pari, a new ARI dedicated to contributing to the deductions, accelerated depreciation for small cultural life of Western Sydney. business, etiquette for using images on social me- dia and many more. There are >180 resources, fact Forums sheets and guides on our website which in 2019 NAVA delivered forums in Sydney, Redfern, were accessed by 15,740 unique visitors. Demand Parramatta, Campbelltown and Armidale on key constantly grows and feedback tells us how issues affecting the sector including Political indispensable our programs are for artists at all Confusion, Artistic Courage with Girramay/Kuku career stages. Yalanji artist Tony Albert and Noonuccal Nuugi man Wesley Enoch at UTS Gallery; Art/Life Balance with Abdul Abdullah, Çigdem Aydemir and Harriet Events NAVA presented 96 forums, public conversations, Body presented in partnership with Parramatta Art- workshops and lectures around Australia ist Studios as part of Movers and Makers 2019; De- to more than 4,000 attendees, plus more online. veloping Arts Criticism facilitated by Soo-Min Shim and Tanushri Saha at Pari; Local practice, national NATIONAL politics at New England Regional Art Museum NAVA delivered professional practice workshops, (NERAM); and What’s fair? facilitated by Georgia forums and lectures at MPavilion Vic, Artsource Mokak and Ramesh Nithiyendran at Firstdraft. Ashfield Studios WA, PICA Performance Space WA, Australian Academy for the Humanities ACT, Lectures and Workshops State Library of , Testing Grounds Vic, City In 2019, professional practice lectures and of Perth Library and History Centre WA, ACE Open workshops were delivered to students at the SA, Studio 65 Tas and we delivered a webinar with National Art School, UNSW Art & Design, Sydney Flying Arts Alliance Qld. A ‘Writing Grant College of the Arts, Meadowbank TAFE, Torrens Proposals’ course was delivered online and we University, and the University of Wollongong. hosted Arts Sector Meetings in Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, as well as several national round- Regional tables online focussed on the revision of the Code Wesley Shaw co-presented an art business basics of Practice and advocacy priorities for the sector. workshop for First Nations artists with Frances Belle Parker, a proud Yaegl woman, painter and installation artist from Maclean at Jabiru Gallery, Funded by Create NSW, this program delivered the Clarence Valley’s First Peoples art gallery in 32 activities in 2019, attracting more than 1,030 Yamba. NAVA professional practice workshops attendees and participants. were also delivered by Georgia Mokak, Anney Bounpraseuth and Justine Youssef in Grafton, NSW Coordinator Newcastle, Maitland, Wollongong, Yass, Moss Vale, Yuin/Dharawal/Ngarigo man Wesley Shaw was Orange and Bathurst on NAVA’s Code of Practice, appointed as Professional Development Coordinator grant writing and pricing your work. Penelope in early 2019. Benton attended Artstate in Tamworth. Artists and arts workers in conversation at a NAVA roundtable, Firstdraft 2019. Photo by Document Photography. 4 ARTIST FOCUS NAVA strengthens artists’ capacity to develop and sustain their practice.

NAVA Ignition Prize for Professional Practice NAVA Grants In 2019, NAVA distributed nearly $113,000 in value This year NAVA awarded 40 Ignition prizes to to visual and media arts, craft and design graduating students from metropolitan and regional practitioners through its grants and scholarships art schools across the country. programs. NSW Artists’ Grant Carstairs Prize With devolved funding from Create NSW, delivered The Carstairs Prize received 23 applications for $50,000 in grants to 36 projects by NSW artists from socially engaged projects that embraced a field of 184 applications. Four additional participatory and collaborative experiences. Eckersley’s Art & Craft Prizes were also awarded. Shivanjani Lal (NSW) was awarded $3,000 and Lau- ra Hindes (NSW) was awarded $1,000. Windmill Trust Scholarship for Regional NSW Artists The Freedman Foundation International NAVA received 51 applications for this year’s Scholarship for Curators scholarship of $10,000. The scholarship was 19 applications were received for The Freedman awarded to Dale Collier. Foundation International Scholarship for Curators. The $8,000 scholarship was awarded to Matthew Artist Files Linde (Vic). NAVA profiles artists across all career stages to offer deep insights into what it means to be a The Freedman Foundation UNSW Curatorial practising professional artist in Australia today. Scholarship In 2019 NAVA continued the popular Artist Files This year’s $5,000 scholarship was awarded to series featuring video interviews with NAVA Isabella Cornell, UNSW Art & Design Honours in Members r e a (Qld), Philip Denham (Qld), Jason Art Theory candidate. UNSW Galleries has Phu (NSW), Nephi Denham (Qld), Sai-Wai Foo (Vic), supported The Freedman Foundation Travelling Damien Shen (SA), Jason Wing (NSW), Nasim Nasr Scholarship since 2014 as presenting partner. (NSW), Megan Cope (Qld) and Kate Tucker (Vic). Collectively, views for these videos received over The Freedman Foundation Travelling Scholarship 11,300 plays with the most popular one being for Emerging Artists Megan Cope with over 3,000 views. In 2019, NAVA announced a 60% increase in the value of The Freedman Foundation Travelling NAVA: In Conversation Scholarship for Emerging Artists. In 2019, NAVA: in conversation shared the voices of Wiradjuri artist Karla Dickens, Chinese-Australian From a pool of 29 applications four emerging artists artist Amy Suo Wu and founder of Feminist South, were awarded $8,000 each to travel Kelly Doley, Argentine-Peruvian artist Adrian Villar overseas to further their professional development. Rojas, Tony Albert and Wesley Enoch, Gabi Gabi/ The artists selected were Tiyan Baker (NSW), Kabi Kabi, Wiradjuri artist Dr Bianca Beetson, Kieran Bryant (NSW), Callum McGrath (Qld) and Abdul Abdullah, Çigdem Aydemir and Harriet Laetitia Olivier-Gargano (Vic). Isabella Cornell, Body, Worimi woman Genevieve Grieves, Make or recipient of The Freedman Foundation Curatorial Break: Connie Anthes and Rebecca Gallo, Eme from Scholarship, curated the presentation of the Anti-Colonial Asian Alliance (AAA), Latai Taumoe- selected artists’ work at UNSW Galleries in peau, Renuka Bauri from CARFAC, and Palawa Sydney along with returning scholars Spence artist Mandy Quadrio. The series had 8,300 plays Messih (NSW), Sara Retallick (Vic), Roberta Joy with Esther Anatolitis in conversation with Tony Rich (Vic) and Alexandra Spence (NSW). Albert and Wesley Enoch in the lead up to the federal election reaching 929 listeners. NAVA Artist File: Damien Shen, NSW. Photo by Sia Duff. 5 ARTIST FOCUS NAVA strengthens artists’ capacity to develop and sustain their practice.

The week proved to be a transformative experience ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP – not just for the artists, but also, for the parliamentarians themselves. Arts Day on the Hill Arts Day on the Hill is our new annual focus on national advocacy development for sustained gov- The most consistent thing the Arts Day of the Hill ernment engagement with a long-term policy focus. Advocates were told, repeatedly, by MPs of all stripes, was that this was the first time they’d had In 2019, the program brought together an artist arts people in their office. That they never hear or arts worker from every state and territory to be about the arts from their constituents, or in their trained in policy engagement and advocacy ahead electorate. That nobody is raising the problems of meetings with MPs. This will happen on the first with them, nor the urgent need for change, nor sitting week after the winter break. what they can contribute.

The aim is to foster confident, informed advocacy This was eye-opening for our Advocates – and by smart, connected artists and arts leaders. Not deeply concerning. The practice and sector just once-off, not just in an emergency, but in an development needs of an entire industry are ongoing way that precludes such policy and unknown to the majority of our parliamentarians. funding emergencies. The policy and investment changes since 2015; their abrupt nature, implemented without On 30 July 2019, Arts Day on the Hill was launched justification, research nor impact modelling; the together with the inauguration of the Parliamentary decline in artists’ incomes and career prospects Friendship Group for Contemporary Arts and that’s followed; the collapse in the commercial Culture, a multi-party group of members and sen- gallery market since the changes to how self- ators, Co-Chaired by John Alexander, Maria Vam- managed super funds understand investment in vakinou and Adam Bandt. The event was attended artworks; the massive disparity in public by artists, arts leaders, cultural institution directors, investment among specific artforms; the decline of philanthropists and Members of Parliament, with a arts education at a time when creative and critical special focus on bold contemporary arts ideas. thinking skills are in high demand; none of these issues are comprehensively understood across the Hosted by Esther Anatolitis with Welcome to parliament – and our political decision-makers are Country by Aunty Matilda House; and guest keen to know why. speakers Co-Chairs of the new Parliamentary Friendship Group for Contemporary Arts and The arts-practising, arts-loving population is Culture Maria Vamvakinou MP and John Alexander massive – 98% of Australians, according to MP; Shadow Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke MP; Australia Council research – and yet the Australian Minister for the Arts, Paul Fletcher MP. Parliament isn’t hearing about what’s at stake when artists can’t sustain careers because their The eight 2019 participants were Clare Armitage incomes, pathways and rights are dwindling. (NT), Selena de Carvalho (Tas), Nadeena Dixon (NSW), Shaun Edwards (Qld), Emma Fey (SA), Mish Of course, NAVA’s been hearing this for many, Grigor (Vic), Miranda Johnson (WA) and Rebecca many years – thus our Advocacy Toolkits, Election Selleck (ACT). The group joined NAVA for eighteen Report Cards and all of our other guides on taking back-to-back meetings with MPs across a range action right now – but to hear MP after MP say so of parties, after two days of advocacy workshops was illuminating for our Advocates. It seems so at the National Gallery of Australia, the Museum simple, they said, and it’s easy to be suspicious Arts Day on the Hill advocates with Maria Vamvakinou; Minister for the Arts, Paul Fletcher MP, Executive Director of NAVA, of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, about the impact it can have, but it’s needed Esther Anatolitis, and Co-Chairs of the new Parliamentary Friendship Group for Contemporary Arts and Culture Maria and Parliament House. precisely because it is simple and it is impactful. Vamvakinou and John Alexander. Photo by Irene Dowdy. 6 INDUSTRY FOCUS NAVA sets national industry standards that promote ambitious and fair practices.

Indigenous Data Sovereignty is a key focus for FIRST NATIONS NAVA’s work on the Code, as is best practice for In 2019 we welcomed Georgia Mokak to NAVA as organisations seeking to engage ethically with First Nations Engagement Coordinator. Georgia is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. a proud Djugun woman from Broome who grew up on Ngunnawal and Country in Canberra, Outreach and Engagement and is now based on Wangal Country in Ashfield. During 2019 Georgia Mokak and Wesley Shaw had Alternating as a curator, producer, writer and an information stall at Cairns Indigenous Art Fair consultant, Georgia is committed to developing (CIAF). Multiple discussions took place with First safe and accessible spaces and resources, Nations industry leaders, Art Centres and promoting best practice for working with First independent artists from Far North Queensland Nations artists. around some of the challenges and complexities.

Towards the end of 2019, Georgia began spending First Nations leadership Self-determination and self advocacy for one day a week doing on the ground community Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists is engagement, primarily in Sydney, and increasingly facilitated through upskilling and professional to regional NSW. Consistent face to face development. In 2019, SHARE. EAT. CONNECT. engagement is crucial to building genuine First Nations led dialogues on self-advocacy and relationships, and informs the majority of the work self-care as practicing artists in community was around First Nations Engagement. facilitated by Ayeesha Ash and Sela Vai and presented in partnership with Campbelltown Art NAVA was involved in the development of the Centre. Ku Arts, Strong Arts Program in Adelaide and Port Augusta that was due to take place in NAVA recorded a number of podcasts and Artist March 2020 but postponed due to COVID-19. Files with First Nations arts practitioners including Tony Albert, Bianca Beetson, Megan Cope, Nephi Non-Indigenous leadership & responsibility Denham, Wesley Enoch, Genevieve Grieves, NAVA created a number of resources to guide Mandy Quadrio, Damien Shen, Jason Wing. non-Indigenous arts leadership to work ethically and responsibly with First Nations artists and Visual artist/designer, Emily Johnson (Barkindji, communities. This was introduced through Wakka Wakka and Biri Guba) was commissioned to articles and postcards on topics including create new visuals for NAVA which has developed cultural authority, community consultation, into an ongoing partnership into 2020. cultural safety, institutional duty of care.

NAVA assisted with Members’ disputes Code of Practice Work began on identifying areas for development concerning cultural safety, the exhibition of in NAVA’s Code of Practice specific to the needs culturally appropriated works and commissioning of First Nations artists and Indigenous led of culturally appropriated public artwork. organisations. This can only be achieved by First Nations led research strategies and comprehensive Partnerships and ongoing consultation with communities, A new partnership was established with John individuals and peak bodies. 2020 and 2021 will see Waight (Artists in the Black/Arts Law Centre of the continuation of community consultation and Australia), Stephanie Parkin (Copyright the development of working groups to inform the Agency) and Georgia Mokak (NAVA) to deepen revision of the Code led by First Nations voices. the relationship and support First Nations staff and research across the three organisations. L-R: Selena de Carvalho, Georgia Mokak, Cara Kirkwood, Justine van Mourik, Mish Grigor, Shaun Edwards at Parliament House, ACT. Photo by Penelope Benton. 7 INDUSTRY FOCUS NAVA sets national industry standards that promote ambitious and fair practices.

The conversation at HB19 saw Hayley Pigram CODE OF PRACTICE (Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Cooperative), Liam The Code of Practice for the Professional James (Sawtooth, Constance), Robbie Handcock Australian Visual Arts, Craft and Design Sector (play_station) and Olivia Koh (recess) ignite con- is both a record and a benchmark of best versations around the concerns of their respective practice across the contemporary arts including organisations and direct the discussion towards legal, ethical and financial business practices, as generating direct actions that the arts sector can well as thorough arts industry guidelines. It is the take to better support the validity and sustainability nucleus of NAVA’s work. In 2019 the Code was of artist led organisations and cooperatives. accessed by 14,478 unique visitors. Shifts in leadership roles to accommodate those As announced in NAVA’s Strategic Plan, we are with varying abilities and capacities, the impacts currently undertaking a major revision of the Code, of voluntary management and labour, and certain working with academic, legal and industry partners guidelines or case studies for artists beginning the as well as consulting widely all over Australia. task of forming an organisation or cooperative were discussed. NAVA has partnered with researchers and academics at RMIT, focusing first on developing CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS guidelines for Commissioning Art in Public Space and new draft Payment Standards for Artists and Strengthening the sector is a key commitment that Arts Workers - both released to the sector in late NAVA makes to our Members. 2019 as pilot pieces to this major revision. Art in the public space Thank you to everyone for the constructive feed- In June, artists, policy makers, planners and other back on these two pilot pieces, particularly on what stakeholders were invited to join NAVA and you felt was missing from the drafts. Our next step research partners from RMIT School of Art at ACE for Commissioning Art in Public Space is to revise Open in Adelaide for the third major consultation the draft with consideration to the feedback and on commissioning art in the public space. develop the areas that require further research. We are also considering suggestions from the Following a panel discussion with Mirning artist Ali sector on information presentation formats. Gumillya Baker, academic dr Ruth Fazakerley and Sue Lorraine Arts South Australia, facilitated by NAVA will continue consultation for updating the Esther Anatolitis, a participatory workshop made Payment Standards for Artists and Arts Workers recommendations for the Code. as part of the larger revision work on the Code as a whole. Further work on fees and wages will be con- The draft Commissioning Art in Public Space was sidered in the various contexts in which artists and released for feedback in November. Authored by Dr arts workers are paid, aiming to achieve nationally Marnie Badham, Dr Ruth Fazakerly, and Fiona Hil- agreed, nationally consistent standards for a lary together with NAVA staff and researchers from contemporary arts sector that’s ambitious and fair. the School of Art at RMIT University with specialist knowledge in public art, the draft drew heavily on previous versions of the Code, a series of stakehold- Artist-Run Initiatives In 2019, NAVA was invited to HOBIENNALE to er consultations, contributions from Terri Janke and pick up the threads of an ongoing discussion host- Company and Arts Law, and published guidelines ed at HB17 which explored the future of artist-run from local, state and international authorities. initiatives, shifting models and how NAVA’s Code Feedback was consolidated in early 2020 and the of Practice fits in the context of these spaces. guidelines are currently being redrafted. Ruth Fazakerley, Esther Anatolitis, Sue Lorraine and Ali Gumillya Baker at ACE Open, Adelaide. Photo by Sia Duff. 8 INDUSTRY FOCUS NAVA sets national industry standards that promote ambitious and fair practices.

Arts Sector Meetings INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP In partnership with the Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA) we presented NAVA focuses sector development as the industry a national roundtable on advocacy priorities in leader in contemporary arts advocacy. Canberra, with ACDC (Australian Craft and Design Centres), artist-run initiatives network All Gender Conference, CAAMD (Council of Australian Art In March, NAVA partnered with Countess to Museum Directors), CAMD (Council of Australian publish Clear Expectations: Guidelines for Museum Directors), CAOA (Contemporary Arts institutions, galleries and curators working with Organisations Australia), Copyright Agency trans, non-binary and gender diverse artists in (formerly Viscopy), GLAM Peak (Galleries, Australia written by artists Spence Messih and Libraries, Archives and Museums), and ICOM Archie Barry. This new resource is a non-exhaus- Australia (International Council of Museums), with tive overview of suggested best practice for art written contributions from Arts Law and Artists in spaces ranging from artist run initiatives to larger the Black. institutes, when working with trans, non-binary and gender diverse creatives. NAVA hosted Arts Sector Meetings in Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, Melbourne and several more In October we backed the launch of the latest online. These meetings harness industry expertise Countess Report which reveals significant on what’s needed most to stimulate the sector, gender equity gains across public galleries, advance artists’ rights and propose policy artist-run initiatives, major museums and university direction. Outcomes are of shared value to all galleries, biennales, commercial galleries and attendees, as well as offering important insights contemporary art organisations, alongside declines to guide NAVA’s work nationally and within each at state galleries and museums. state. First released in 2016 with data collected from ACCESS national exhibitions in 2014, the 2016 Countess Report presented research that has become Throughout the year NAVA took a systematic indispensable to the contemporary visual arts approach to improving the accessibility of our sector. The release of the 2019 report continues work, including: to situate Countess as the premier data reference • set up an accessibility scan on the NAVA point for understanding and redressing gender website, identifying areas for repair, fixed inequity in the Australian arts sector. Since 2017 inaccessible or broken areas, and continue to countess.report has been a collaborative project monitor the scan weekly of Amy Prcevich, Elvis Richardson and Miranda • presenting accessible workshops and events in Samuels. accessible venues • captioning and transcribing all of our audio and National video resources NAVA participates in key events all over Australia – • ensuring that accessibility information is clearly too many to list! Some highlights include: provided for every event we promote in our • WA Writing & Publishing Forum, Perth Opportunities listings • Great South Coast Creative Industries Strategy - • collaborating with Accessible Arts to co- Visual Arts Session, Warrnambool, Vic present a professional development workshop. • ACUADS CONFERENCE: Engagement, Melb • Presented keynote address to Torrens Uni- versity graduating design students, Sydney Amy Prcevich and Elvis Richardson at Seventh Gallery, Melbourne. Artwork Ellen Yeong Gyeong Son, In the name of love. Photo by Phoebe Powell. 9 PUBLIC FOCUS NAVA amplifies the voice of the artist to enrich the national conversation.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT “Artists’ average incomes are falling, the numbers of visual artists and craft According to the Australia Council, the arts have a practitioners are declining, it’s taking longer place in the lives of 98% of Australians. for artists to become established in their careers, and the gender pay gap is worse in However, artists and arts issues are not visible to the arts than in any other industry, according the public in our news media, and not top-of-mind to Australia Council research. for our decision-makers. Amplifying the voice of the artist is a key commitment that NAVA makes “Why can’t a $7.1bn surplus fund a $7.1bn to its Members. NAVA engages the general public vision for Australia’s future?” through campaigns that are engaging and timely, 3/4/19 Australian Financial Review building an ongoing arts presence.

Arts Agenda NAVA CEO Esther Anatolitis said that ‘the Launched in April 2019, Arts Agenda is a new success of any arts event is the success of monthly focus on national issues in Australia’s the artists who’ve created its work... Artists contemporary arts, designed for the inboxes of should never be treated as an afterthought.’ leading thinkers in journalism, academia and 17/5/19 ArtsHub policy.

Media Impact Esther Anatolitis, the executive director of In 2019, NAVA was quoted and mentioned 117 the National Association for the Visual Arts, times in mainstream media as the voice of the said a public roadmap was vital if the Australian contemporary arts sector. Morrison government was serious about jobs and growth. NAVA was either published, mentioned or quoted in: Daily Review, Sydney Morning Herald, Artshub, “Now is the time for the next arts minister Time-Out, Architecture Australia, 2SER, 2RTR, to have a really good think about what they’d 3RRR, The Wire, Eureka Street, ABC print and like their legacy to be,” she said. “There are a radio, FBi radio, The Daily Telegraph, WIN News, lot of very serious issues for an industry that Koori Radio, The Adelaide Review, Eyeline, contributes $111.7 billion to the economy. We Canberra Times, The Music, ArtGuide, Sky News, need the government to take us seriously.” The Mix, ABC Arts, ABC Radio National, 24/5/19 SMH NZ Herald, The Age, Times, World News, The Guardian, and many more. “Courageous ministers with ambition place their confidence in artists, recognising “The artists’ work is respected and artists’ power to create the invigorating celebrated when artists are paid fairly, experiences, indelible images and when we seek out their voice and listen to compelling stories as our society’s them. My vision is for a culture that is led conscience and cultural record. The power by artists.” of the artist should not be feared; it should 11/3/19 SBS be welcomed and embraced by policy that’s ambitious and fair.” 4/6/19 The Guardian

Esther Anatolitis, In these critical times, MPavilion, Melbourne. Photo by Daniel Gardeazabal. 10 PUBLIC FOCUS NAVA amplifies the voice of the artist to enrich the national conversation.

Australian Cultural Policy: The Next Decade was a POLICY DEVELOPMENT national symposium presented in partnership with A complex range of policy instruments impact on Monash University’s Masters of Cultural & Creative Australian contemporary arts practice. Industries the week after the rescheduled federal budget – at the State Library of Victoria’s Confer- NAVA develops expert policy positions and timely ence Centre (Latrobe St Melbourne). Our responses to emerging issues, ensuring that program presented arts sector leaders government policy promotes sustainable practice comprehensively alongside the nation’s most and a healthy sector. We offer insightful cultural impactful researchers and advocates. commentary across matters of national significance, ensuring arts issues impact nationally. Federal Election In 2019 NAVA led a clear and constructive As committed in our Strategic Plan, NAVA spends campaign, INVEST IN ARTISTIC COURAGE, that a minimum of two non-consecutive weeks in focused the advocacy work of artists and Canberra each year, meeting with MPs across all colleagues all over Australia. Our policy pitches major parties as well as senior government and were timely and expert; our Election Report Card local arts colleagues. was widely used; our media impacts and social media engagement were strong. With thanks to the In 2019, Esther Anatolitis met with nineteen MPs Balnaves Foundation, we published three full-page across all major parties including serving, shadow ads in The Australian. and party arts spokespeople and backbenchers, NAVA’s policy recommendations included: to brief them on artists’ expectations as well as on • the payment of industry standard artist fees be NAVA’s advocacy, policy and action focus. a condition of funding for all funding programs • a Guaranteed Annual Income scheme and NAVA made submissions to relevant government Centrelink recognition for arts practice as work inquiries including the National Indigenous Arts • all grants to artists become tax-free and Cultural Authority (NIACA) consultation, • copyright reform that enables artists to earn National Inquiry into sexual harassment in incomes from their intellectual property without Australian workplaces, Senate Inquiry into threat from ‘content’ tech giants Nationhood, National Identity and Democracy, • restore funding to NETS to revive national and the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into touring via competitive grants The Social and Economic Benefits of Improving • tax incentives to stimulate investment in artist- Mental Health. led social enterprise, and superannuation reform to allow investment works to be exhibited • replace the Major Performing Arts Framework CULTURAL LEADERSHIP with a reframed Artistic Investment Framework and include long-term, indexed investment in Federal Budget In April 2019, NAVA responded with caution and VACS increase funding for the Australia Council concern for the future Australian culture that the to the levels committed via the National Australian Government’s Budget 2019-2020 Cultural Policy neglected. NAVA’s response was timely and • maintain the integrity of independently peer- comprehensive and was picked up by national assessed arts funding as a clear expression of radio and discussed extensively across the our confidence in the expertise of Australia’s sector. In many cases, our response was the only artists. published analysis of the budget from an arts and Following the election, we updated the Advocacy cultural perspective. Toolkit to encourage Members to write to newly elected or re-elected MPs. Dr Bianca Beetson, Australian Cultural Policy: The Next Decade, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne. Photo by Sarah Walker 9 ABOUT NAVA

The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) leads advocacy, policy and action for a Mission contemporary arts sector that’s ambitious and fair.

Our vision is that artistic courage ignites Australian culture.

We represent a Membership and sector community of over 50,000 professional practising artists, creative practitioners, galleries and other art organisations. Since our establishment in 1983, NAVA has been influential in bringing about policy and legislative change to encourage the growth and development of the visual arts sector and to increase professionalism within the industry.

Through the Code of Practice for the Professional Australian Visual Arts, Craft and Design Sector, NAVA sets best practice standards for the contemporary arts industry. Our key focus as launched in our Strategic Plan 2018-20 is to advocate the ethics, negotiate the partnerships and secure the commitments that make the NAVA Code of Practice the enforceable standard across the contemporary arts industry.

Our work has three key focus areas:

1. ARTISTS Strengthen artists’ capacity to develop and sustain their practice.

2. INDUSTRY Set national industry standards that promote ambitious and fair practices.

3. PUBLIC Amplify the voice of the artist to enrich the national conversation.

Mish Grigor, Selena de Carvalho, Rebecca Selleck, Miranda Johnson, Esther Anatolitis, Georgia Mokak, Shaun Edwards, Nadeena Dixon, Emma Fey, Clare Armitage in the House of Representatives, Museum of Australian Democracy. Photo by Penelope Benton. 12 OUR BOARD

Chair Elected Representative - Organisations James Emmett is a barrister at Banco Chambers and adjunct associate Wesley Enoch hails from Stradbroke Island (Minjeribah) in Queensland, professor in law at the University of New South Wales. He is a director of and is a proud Noonuccal Nuugi man. He is a writer and director for the Twenty10 incorporating the Gay & Lesbian Counselling Service and sits on stage and joined the Sydney Festival as Artistic Director in 2015. He was the Advisory Board of the La Trobe University Centre for Legislation. He is creative consultant, segment director and indigenous advisor for the open- an enthusiastic supporter of the arts sector generally and the visual arts in ing and closing ceremonies of Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018; particular. the Artistic Director of Queensland Theatre Company 2010-2015; Associ- ate Artistic Director at Belvoir St Theatre 2007-2010.

Deputy Chair and Elected Representative - Artists Sally Smart is one of Australia’s significant contemporary artists. Her Co-opted Representative practice engages identity politics and the relationships between the body, Maria Farmer, Managing Director of Maria Farmer Public Relations thought and culture including trans-national ideas that have shaped (MFPR), one of Australia’s leading entertainment industry PR consultants cultural history. The recipient of numerous awards and prizes, Smart is and a founding committee member of the Human Rights Watch Australia currently Vice -Chancellor’s Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne Committee. Maria is a Sydney Swans Ambassador. and on the board of directors of the National gallery of Australia.

Co-opted Representative Elected Representative - Artists Bill Morrow is an artist practising , and photography. His Ionat Zurr (PhD) is considered a leader in the growing field of Biological work is principally concerned with the landscape and the human figure. Art, both as a practitioner and a theoretician. She is the Chair of the Visual Now retired from the law, Bill worked as a solicitor in South Australia for Arts Discipline at the School of Design and the Academic Coordinator and over 30 years. Since that time he has been a strong advocate for, and a researcher at SymbioticA, School of Human Sciences at the University of defender of artists’ rights. Bill is currently a director of Artlink Australia. Western Australia.

Co-opted Representative, Development Committee Chair Elected Representative - Aboriginal or Torres Strait Dr Dick Quan is Director at Holdsworth House since its inception in 1992 Islander Artist with a clinical focus in sexual health, HIV, Hepatitis and virology. He is Genevieve Grieves is a Worimi woman – traditionally from mid north coast also currently on the board of the Foundation of Museum of Contemporary New South Wales who has lived in Narrm (Melbourne) for many years. She Art Australia and serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council at UNSW Art & is an award-winning Indigenous artist, researcher, educator, curator, film- Design and the Venice Biennale Commissioners’ Council 2019 through the maker and oral historian who has accumulated twenty years’ experience Australia Council. across the arts, culture and education sectors. Genevieve has consistently won recognition and awards for the variety of projects she has undertaken throughout her diverse career including online documentaries, film, art and Treasurer exhibitions.She is currently Head of the newly formed First Peoples Kathir Ponnusamy has over 18 years of experience in a range of finance Department at Museums Victoria and is undertaking her PhD in the and accounting roles both in Australia and Asia. Kathir has worked across program focussed on Aboriginal art, colonial violence and memoralisation. several industries including banking, business services, telecommunica- tions and retail. Kathir is a member of the CPA Australia and Malaysian Institute of Accountants. Elected Representative - Organisations Hannah Mathews is a Melbourne-based curator with a particular interest in the lineage of conceptual art and performative modes of practice. She NAVA would also like to acknowledge and thank Board Members: is currently Senior Curator at Monash University Museum of Art. Hannah Michael Zavros (2014-2019), Terry Wu (2015-2019), graduated with a Master of Art Curatorship from the University of Amala Groom (2017-2019), Peter White (2018-2019), Melbourne in 2002 and has worked in numerous curatorial positions. and Company Secretary Jocelyn Williams (2018-2019). 13 ABOUT NAVA

Staff Acknowledgements Executive Director: Esther Anatolitis NAVA was assisted by the Visual Arts and Craft General Manager: Penelope Benton Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Administration and Grants Coordinator: Territory Governments. NAVA was also Holly Morrison supported by the NSW Government through Professional Practice Coordinator: Wesley Shaw Create NSW multi-year funding, devolved funding (Jan-June), Justine Youssef (from Sept) and Infrastructure Support Program. Professional Development Contractor: Anney Bounpraseuth Generous donors include the Balnaves Foundation, Campaign Coordinator: Bek Conroy (March-May) The Freedman Foundation, Windmill Trust, Daniel Membership and Communications Team: Besen, Penelope Seidler, Eckersley’s and UNSW Soo-Min Shim, Tanushri Saha, Naomi Segal Art & Design. NAVA gratefully acknowledges the Publicists: Morey Media advice and support of its pro bono legal partner, Illustrator: Emily Johnson Arnold Bloch Leibler. Designer: Olivia Louella Financial Consultant: Jocelyn Payne Thank you to media partners Artlink, Art Monthly, IT Consultant: Jay Cooper Art Almanac, Eyeline and Vault.

MAJOR FUNDERS CAMPAIGN PARTNER

Members

GRANT PARTNERS LEGAL PARTNER

MEDIA PARTNERS

eyeline Liam James and Justine Youssef at Studio 65, Hobart. Photo by Lucy Parakhina. CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ARTS 14

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