States and Territories

Together with NSW’s leading arts organisations, NAVA shared its grave concerns for the future of the NSW arts sector, following the shock announcement in July 2018 that Round 2 of the Create NSW Arts & Cultural Projects fund had a success rate of 2.7%, among the lowest in Australian history. 

In September 2018, NAVA expressed further alarm at the news that money was taken from a NSW Government fund intended for independent artists, and redirected towards an unspecified “special project”, as published in an exclusive piece by the ABC’s Michaela Boland using documents obtained via a Freedom of Information request. 

NAVA endorsed the joint submission made by the state’s leading industry bodies in recommending ministerial oversight on all aspects of the night-time economy, as well as planning controls and incentives that encourage appropriate activity to balance community and commercial interests.

NAVA own submission and appearance before the parliamentary inquiry in Sydney on 28 May 2018 are referenced in the final report here.

In late 2017, NAVA made a submission in response to the City of Sydney’s Discussion Paper ‘An Open and Creative City: planning for culture and the night-time economy’, with particular focus on proposed Action 3: Allow minimal impact small-scale cultural uses without development consent.

The City of Melbourne released its draft Creative Strategy 2018-2028 in July with a call for feedback. NAVA posed some questions for artists, organisations, workers and residents to consider in responding to the draft in writing or via consultation sessions.

NAVA also made contributions to the consultation both through the online process and in person through meetings with senior staff.