NAVA In Action
What we're working on this year...
NAVA First Nations Outreach Coordinator, Georgia Mokak, facilitating the panel discussion "Creative Sovereignty & Legacies" at Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA), 13 April. L-R: Shannon Clohessy, Emily Rose, Georgia Mokak, Amanda Bell, and Charmaine Papertalk Green.
ID: Five panelists sit in a row on chairs facing an audience, with a large projected screen behind them. Each holds a microphone, and Georgia Mokak (center) is speaking.
April 2025
- Penelope Benton and Leya Reid met with Imogen Beynon, 1 April
- Media Release: Visual artists leaving the sector: New report confirms urgent need for action, 2 April
- NAVA mentioned in Australia’s visual and craft arts sector likened to the gig economy in new report, RMIT University, 2 April
- Penelope Benton quoted by Hannah Story in New study of Australian artists finds average income from art is only $14k, ABC News, 2 April
- NAVA mentioned by Gina Fairley in Shortfall in incomes draining visual arts sector, says new report, Arts Hub, 2 April
- NAVA welcomed South Australia’s Cultural Policy, A Place To Create, 2 April
- Penelope Benton presented at the Visual Arts Work Research Findings Seminar and Visual Arts Work: Careers, Perspectives and Practices in an Australian Context book launch, RMIT University, 2 April
- Ju Bavkya, Emma Pham, Janel Yau and Leya Reid presented to Australian Catholic University Professional Practice students, 2 April
- The NAVA team attended Diversity Arts Australia’ Anti-Racism & The Arts launch, 2 April
- Penelope Benton and Leya Reid participated in the Fair Work Commission Case Management Hearing for Variation on the Commission’s own initiative – Amusement, Events and Recreation Award 2020 (AM2024/37), 3 April
- Penelope Benton met with Imogen Beynon, 3 April
- Penelope Benton met with Maria Farmer PR, 3 April
- Penelope Benton met with Josue Lowe, Co-CEO Theatre Network Australia, 3 April
- Penelope Benton quoted by Walter Marsh in ‘Game-changer’ or ‘deliberately vague’? Unpacking the state’s new cultural policy, In Daily, 4 April
- Penelope Benton quoted by Jack Nivison in Aussie sporting teams in hot water with fans over new AI feature, The Advertiser, 4 April
- NAVA launched it’s federal election campaign, Secure Artists’ Futures #VoteForArt 2025, 7 April
- NAVA mentioned by Louisa Poulis in Visual and craft arts workers abandoning sector, study finds, Australian Design Review, 7 April
- Penelope Benton and Leya Reid met with Katie Russell, National Director/CEO, and Chloë Powell, Research Projects Lead, Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA), 8 April
- Penelope Benton facilitated meeting between the Visual Arts Roundtable and Bronwyn Coulston, Stakeholder Engagement Manager – Arts, and Meg O’Donnell, Stakeholder Engagement Advisor (Arts & Culture), Services and Creative Skills Australia (SaCSA), 8 April
- Georgia Mokak met with Melissa Juhanson, CEO KU Arts, 9 April
- Georgia Mokak and Janel Yau met with Tama Kirikiri from Toi Mai Workforce Development Council, New Zealand, 9 April
- Penelope Benton, Leya Reid, Georgia Mokak and Imogen Beynon met with Kate Schaffner, Director and Georgia Cheeseman, Project Officer, Creative Workplaces, 9 April
- Emma Pham met with Teik Kim Pok, Cultural Projects Coordinator ‑ Sector Support, Creative City, City of Sydney, 9 April
- The NAVA team attended a tour of Cao Fei exhibition with Curator Yin Cao, Art Gallery of NSW, 9 April
- Penelope Benton attended Nusra Latif Qureshi and Simryn Gill in conversation at the Art Gallery of NSW, 9 April
- Georgia Mokak attended the opening of Revealed 2025, Art Gallery of WA, 11 April
- NAVA co-signed National Advocates for Arts Education (NAAE) Federal Election Statement, 12 April
- Georgia Mokak hosted NAVA’s stall at the Aboriginal Art Centre Hub WA (AACHWA) Revealed Art Market 2025 at WA Museum Boola Bardip, 12 April
- Georgia Mokak facilitated the panel discussion "Creative Sovereignty & Legacies" at Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA), 13 April
- Penelope Benton and Leya Reid participated in Fair Work Commission Case Management Conference for Variation on the Commission’s own initiative – Amusement, Events and Recreation Award 2020 (AM2024/37), 14 and 23 April
- Penelope Benton listed by Gina Fairley in Poll: 50 women making an impact in the visual arts sector, Arts Hub, 15 April
- Penelope Benton presented at the Regional Galleries Association South Australia (RGASA) Peaks + Key Arts Orgs Online Workshop, 15 April
- Janel Yau attended Create NSW 2-Year Multi-year Funding Q&A, 15 April
- Holly Morrison attended Dealing with Difficult Clients webinar, 15 April
- Penelope Benton and Leya Reid met with Kate Schaffner, Director and Georgia Cheeseman, Project Officer, Creative Workplaces, and Katie Russell, National Director/CEO, and Chloë Powell, Research Projects Lead, AMaGA, 17 April
- In collaboration with AMaGA and Creative Workplaces, NAVA made a submission to the Fair Work Commission’s Variation on the Commission’s own initiative – Amusement, Events and Recreation Award 2020 (AM2024/37), 17 April
- NAVA mentioned in Visual arts body's charity status used to help dumped artist, 22 April
- NAVA with the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and AMaGA provided a joint submission in reply to the Fair Work Commission in connection with proceeding AM2024/37, 24 April
- Emma Pham co-facilitated Area Coded's Mid-Career Artist session with Marikit Santiago and Utp, 24 April
- NAVA Board meeting, 28 April
- NAVA Board Election: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Director, 28 April
- NAVA responded to Support Act Wellbeing Helpline evaluation findings, 28 April
- Penelope Benton and Leya Reid participated in Fair Work Commission Full Bench Hearing for Variation on the Commission’s own initiative – Amusement, Events and Recreation Award 2020 (AM2024/37), 29 April
- NAVA published Federal Election Report Card 2025, 29 April
- Penelope Benton quoted by Nicola Heath and Sky Kirkham in What Labor, the Coalition and the Greens are offering the arts in the 2025 federal election — and what the sector wants, ABC News, 29 April
- NAVA cited by Jo Pickup in How many open letters does it take to see top tier leadership change in the arts?, Arts Hub, 29 April
- Janel Yau and Penelope Benton met with Rockethouse, 30 April.
March 2025
- Penelope Benton quoted by David Burton in Resignations and censorship: Australia wrestles with artistic freedom, Arts Hub 4 March
- Penelope Benton participated in Copyright and Artificial Intelligence Reference Group (CAIRG) meeting to discuss findings on the feedback to the Attorney General's Department consultation on copyright and AI transparency issues, 5 March
- Holly Morrison attended Wellbeing Through Art, presented by Accessible Arts and the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW), 5 March
- NAVA Board meeting, 6 March
- Penelope Benton met with Gabrielle Sullivan, Chief Executive Indigenous Art Code, 7 March
- NAVA made a submission to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) regarding the case Variation on the Commission’s own initiative – Amusement, Events and Recreation Award 2020 (AM2024/37), 10 March
- Emma Pham met with Skye Petho, Programs and Partnerships Manager, Arts Mid North Coast, 12 March
- Georgia Mokak met with Emma Hicks, 12 March
- Penelope Benton participated in national cross-artform peak organisations quarterly meeting, 13 March
- NAVA wrote to Adrian Collette CEO and Robert Morgen Chair of the Board Creative Australia again raising urgent concerns regarding Creative Australia’s withdrawal of Khaled Sabsabi’s selection for the 2026 Venice Biennale, and the absence of a recruitment process for a new Head of Visual Arts, 13 March
- NAVA responded to Creative Australia’s governance review announcement, 17 March
- NAVA wrote to Adrian Collette, CEO and Robert Morgen, Chair of the Board Creative Australia regarding the announcement of a governance review into the decision-making processes for the 2026 Venice Biennale, 18 March
- Penelope Benton met with Maud Page, Deputy Director AGNSW, 18 March
- Penelope Benton attended Nusra Latif Qureshi Birds in Far Pavilions, AGNSW 18 March
- Penelope Benton met with Gabrielle Sullivan, Chief Executive Indigenous Art Code, 18 March
- Donnalyn Xu and Emma Pham met with Hannah Rouse, Producer Creative Programs Inner West Council, and Amylia Harris, Producer Creative Programs Inner West Council, 18 March
- Penelope Benton met with Lena Nahlous, CEO & Executive Producer Diversity Arts Australia (DARTS) and Joshua Lowe, Co-CEO Theatre Network Australia (TNA), 19 March
- Georgia Mokak attended Protecting Indigenous Art: Legal Essentials for Indigenous Creatives, 20 March
- Georgia Mokak met with Nadine Lee, 20 March
- Penelope Benton met with Dr Oliver Watts, artist, curator and academic, Artist Director Copyright Agency Board, Head Curator of Artbank, 20 March
- Penelope Betnon attended the launch of A gestural drift curated by Sara Oscar in the Artbank Window, 20 March
- Emma Pham hosted Area Coded: Emerging Artist presented by NAVA and Utp, 21 March
- Georgia Mokak presented at Empowering Artists for the Future: Professional Development Forum hosted by the Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance, Coffs Harbour NSW, 24 March
- Georgia Mokak hosted one on one sessions with First Nations artists from the Mid North Coast at Saltwater Freshwater, 25 March
- NAVA wrote to City of Perth Council urging reconsideration of its position on the removal and indefinite storage of two significant public artworks - Paul Ritter’s The Obelisk and Lorenna Grant’s Arch, 24 March
- Penelope Benton and Leya Reid met with Tess Chappell, National Industrial Officer - Equity Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA), 25 March
- Penelope Benton met with Anne Robertson, Executive Office Public Galleries Association Victoria (PGAV), 26 March
- Penelope Benton met with José Da Silva, Director UNSW Galleries and Chair of University Art Museums Australia (UAMA), 26 March
- Penelope Benton met with Dr Ben Eltham, writer, researcher, trade unionist, 26 March
- Penelope Benton, Georgia Mokak and Leya Reid met with Kate Schaffner, Director and Georgia Cheesman, Project Officer Creative Workplaces, 26 March
- NAVA responded to the Federal Budget 2025-26, 26 March
- Penelope Benton quote by Richard Watts in Federal Budget 2025-26: how does it benefit the arts?, Arts Hub 26 March
- Penelope Benton quoted by Jason Blake in 2025-26 Budget Offers Modest Support for the Arts, Limelight 26 March
- Donnalyn Xu and Emma Pham met with Imogen Yang, independent collaborative arts practitioner, M Sunflower, artist, and Bedelia Lowrencev, actor, dancer, singer and theatre-maker, 26 March
- Georgia Mokak Presented at Djurali, 26 March
- Penelope Benton met with Imogen Beynon, 27 March
- Penelope Benton met with Maria Farmer, MFPR, 27 March
- NAVA wrote to Professor Pickering, Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash University regarding the Postponement of Flat Earth exhibition at Monash University Museum of Art (MUMA), 27 March
- NAVA and National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) Monash branch responded to Monash University’s postponement of exhibition featuring Khaled Sabsabi, 27 March
- Penelope Benton quoted by Jason Blake in University condemned for postponing exhibition featuring works by Khaled Sabsabi, Limelight 27 March
- NAVA cited by Joshua Black in Blue Poles and its $1.4m price-tag shocked the nation, but did it change us?, InDaily 27 March
- Penelope Benton facilitated extraordinary meeting of national cross-artform peak organisations, 27 March
- The Fair Work Commission published responses to NAVA’s submission regarding Arts sector - Amusement, Events and Recreation Award 2020 (AM2024/37), 28 March
- NAVA Governance Subcommittee meeting, 31 March.
February 2025
- NAVA published Revising the Amusement Award: What Should Change?, 5 February
- Penelope Benton met with Natalie Fisher, NSF Consulting, Evaluation and Social Research, 5 February
- Penelope Benton submitted feedback on the Arts Workforce Plan Update 2025, "Shaping Tomorrow: Progress in Action", 5 February
- Georgia Mokak and Penelope Benton met with Steve Miller and Isabel Wilson, Aboriginal Culture, Heritage & Arts Association (ACHAA), 5 February
- NAVA launched its Disability Action Plan, 6 February
- NAVA mentioned by Autumn Whiteman in NAVA launches its Disability Action Plan, ArtsHub, 12 February
- Penelope Benton participated in the Attorney-General’s Department’s Orphan Works Scheme “Proposed Design” online roundtable meeting, 12 February
- Penelope Benton interviewed by Liz Trevaskis on Darwin Drive, ABC Radio, 12 February
- Penelope Benton met with Emma Rees, Director Visual Arts and Design, Jessie Fatnowna, Assistant Secretary Creative Industries Office for the Arts (OFTA), and Belinda Layton, Assistant Director, Policy - Visual Arts and Design at Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, 13 February
- Penelope Benton attended the openings of Extinguishing Hope: Akil Ahamat at UTS Gallery and Queer Contemporary: Chaosophy at National Art School (NAS) Gallery, 13 February
- Penelope Benton met with artist Khaled Sabsabi on 14, 26 and 27 February
- Media Release: NAVA statement in support of artist Khaled Sabsabi, 14 February
- Penelope Benton quoted by Anna Kelsey-Sugg and Bhakthi Puvanenthiran in Spate of resignations follow Creative Australia's decision to drop artist Khaled Sabsabi from Venice Biennale, ABC News, 14 February
- Penelope Benton quoted by Kelly Burke in Creative Australia hit by resignations over decision to withdraw Khaled Sabsabi from Venice Biennale, The Guardian Australia, 14 February
- NAVA quoted by Linda Morris, Kerrie O'Brien and Paul Sakkal in Resignations follow dumping of Australian artist from Venice Biennale, The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 February
- NAVA quoted by Cecelia Cmielewski in ‘A shameful call by Creative Australia’: the arts community reacts to Khaled Sabsabi being dropped from the Venice Biennale, the Conversation, 14 February
- Penelope Benton quoted by Michael Bailey and Tom McIlroy in Government accused of caving in to pressure in dumping Biennale team, Australian Financial Review, 14 February
- Penelope Benton quoted by Jason Blake in Creative Australia pulls Venice Biennale pick, Limelight, 14 February
- Penelope Benton quoted in Protests after artist is dropped from biennial, Sweden Herald, 14 February
- NAVA quoted by Dr Cecelia Cmielewski in Opinion: ‘A shameful call by Creative Australia’: the arts community reacts to Khaled Sabsabi being dropped from the Venice Biennale, Western Sydney University, 14 February
- Penelope Benton quoted by Judith White in The betrayal of creative Australia, PNG Attitude, 16 February
- NAVA quoted by David Burton in Resignations and uproar follow Creative Australia’s Venice Biennale decision, ArtsHub, 18 February
- NAVA presented an information stall for students as part of UNSW Art & Design Community Day, 19 February
- Penelope Benton interviewed by Daniel Browning for Arts in 30: Resignations and condemnation in the wake of Creative Australia's Venice Biennale decision, ABC Radio National, 19 February
- NAVA quoted by Gabriela Zabala and Richard Phillips in Australian artists demand immediate reinstatement of Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino to Venice Biennale, World Socialist Web Site, 19 February
- NAVA quoted by Elaine YJ Zheng in Australian Pavilion at Venice Faces Cancellation Over Controversy, Ocula Magazine, 19 February
- Penelope Benton met with Joshua Lowe, Co-CEO, Theatre Network Australia, 18 and 20 February
- NAVA team attended Brand X City of Sydney Creative Studios residents morning tea, 20 February
- NAVA Governance Subcommittee meeting 21 February
- NAVA presented Area Coded: Pre-Emerging Artist, 21 February
- Penelope Benton quoted by Nour Haydar and Sarah Collard in National Gallery of Australia says it covered Palestinian flags on tapestry after security assessment, The Guardian Australia, 21 February
- Penelope Benton quoted in NGA covers Palestinian flags after 'security assessment', Al Mayadeen English, 21 February
- NAVA quoted by Elizabeth Fortescue in More Australian art world figures condemn decision to cancel Khaled Sabsabi’s Venice Biennale project, The Art Newspaper, 21 February
- Penelope Benton quoted by Linda Morris in Australian artists are furious. Our peak arts agency has questions to answer, The Sydney Morning Herald, 23 February
- NAVA made a submission to the Australian Accounting Standards Board providing feedback on simplifying Australia’s Not-for-Profit Financial Reporting Framework to ensure it remains fair and accessible for arts organisations, 24 February
- Penelope Benton met with Adam Worrall, Director of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT), 24 February
- Penelope Benton met with Emma Webb, executive committee member of the Arts Industry Council of SA, 25 February
- NAVA mentioned in Arts Censorship Gives Heated Debate, Mimeta, 25 February
- Penelope Benton interviewed by Narelda Jacobs on 10 News First Lunchtime, 25 February
- Penelope Benton and Janel Yau attended Senate Estimates, Parliament House, Canberra, 25 February
- Media Release: NAVA condemns Creative Australia’s failure to defend artistic freedom, 26 February
- NAVA and Sydney Arts Management Advisory Group (SAMAG) co-presented Untangling Insurance webinar, 26 February
- NAVA made a submission to the Attorney-General’s Department addressing the proposed Orphan Works Scheme to protect artists’ rights and ensure fair use of copyright materials, 26 February
- Penelope Benton participated in Services and Creative Skills Australia (SaCSA) Charrette workshop, facilitated by Creative Plus Business, 27 February
- NAVA presented an information stall for undergraduate students as part of National Art School (NAS) O Week, 28 February.
January 2025
- NAVA office opened 6 January
- NAVA team undertook Cultural Awareness training with Koori Kinnections, 13 January
- Penelope Benton met with Rebecca Butler, Executive Director Museums & Galleries QLD, 16 January
- Janel Yau attended In Conversation: Marikit Santiago and Zico Albaiquni, Campbelltown Arts Centre, 18 January
- Penelope Benton met with Isabella Alexander, Evana Wright and Genevieve Wilkinson, Faculty of Law University of Technology Sydney (UTS), 20 January
- NAVA announced Improved insurance for NAVA Members – New partners, better coverage, 21 January
- Submitted Pre-Budget Submission 2025-26 to Treasury, 21 January
- NAVA published Invasion Day/Survival Day Statement of Solidarity 2025, 21 January
- Georgia Mokak and Penelope Benton participated in Envisioning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander AI Futures, hosted by the Centre for Global Indigenous Futures Macquarie University, 22 January
- Penelope Benton met with Brett Adlington, CEO Museums & Galleries of NSW, 23 January
- Penelope Benton attended the opening of Re-Stor(y)ing Oceania, Latai Taumoepeau and Elisapeta Hinemoa Heta, curated by Taloi Havini; and Juanita McLauchlan, guuma-li / gather, 23 January
- Janel Yau attended the 3rd Bankstown Biennale featuring, Karla Dickens, Jamie Eastwood, Maddison Gibbs, Edwina Green, Morgan Hogg, Gillian Kayrooz, Wona Bae and Charlie Lawler, Gary Lee, Ruth Ju-Shih Li, Jazz Money, Claudia Nicholson, Joan Ross, Salllvaage, Kien Situ, James Tylor, Dung-Chuan Wen, Jason Wing, 23 January
- Media Release: Celebrating Clothilde Bullen on receiving an Order of Australia Medal (OAM), 27 January
- NAVA mentioned by Phoebe Blogg in Trailblazer Clothilde Bullen honoured for services to Indigenous arts, National indigenous Times, 28 January
- Penelope Benton, Leya Reid, Georgia Mokak, and Ju Bavyka met with Jennifer van Bronswijk and Guy Donovan, Holding Redlich, Kate Schaffner, Director Creative Workplaces and Imogen Beynon, 29 December
- Penelope Benton met with Brett Adlington, CEO Museums & Galleries of NSW, 29 January
- Penelope Benton attended the openings of Casey Chen: Another Jingdezhen Car Boot Sale, and Louise Zhang: Moving in Quiet, N. Smith Gallery, 30 January
- Penelope Benton quoted by Linda Morris in Museum of Contemporary Art seeks ‘white knight’ as entry fees kick in, Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), 31 January.
