Communities of Practice

The communities we foster develop our practice and strengthen our sector. Our events, forums and talks around the country connect artists to discuss current ideas and challenges with passion. 

Eugenia Flynn, Guy Abrahams and Lucrecia Quintanilla as part of NAVA's Art Agency Action forum

Eugenia Flynn, Guy Abrahams and Lucrecia Quintanilla as part of NAVA's Art Agency Action forum, Testing Grounds, Melbourne 2017. Photo by Daniel Gardeazabal.

Mentorship

Collaborative Mentorship Initiative

Zoom screenshot of all participants in the Collaborative Mentorship Initiative 'Welcome Session'. L-R from first row: Ryan Lee; Nancy Yu; Franchesca Cubillo; Sarra Tzijan; Helen Kwok; Megan Cope; Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran; Rusaila Bazlamit; and Justine Yo

Collaborative Mentorship Initiative Welcome Session. L-R: Ryan Lee; Nancy Yu; Franchesca Cubillo; Sarra Tzijan; Helen Kwok; Megan Cope; Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran; Rusaila Bazlamit; and Justine Youssef (NAVA).

A unique mentorship program for early-career participants looking to build the knowledge, skills and capacity to pursue projects and goals. Applications are now closed.

Events & Forums

NAVA Events

Person speaks into microphone, she has long brown hair, brown eyes and is dressed in dark blue. Another person looks on, he is wearing a black and white stripe T-shirt and has curly blonde shoulder length hair.

Justine Youssef in conversation with artist run initiatives at Studio 65, Hobart as part of Hobiennale, 2019. Photo by Lucy Parakhina.


Our public forums present timely thinkers and practitioners and are held in partnership with key organisations around Australia.

Regional & National Tours

Meetings & Presentations

Crowd at NAVA networking event. Photo by Daniel Gardeazabal.​

Photo by Daniel Gardeazabal.

Throughout the year, NAVA travels around Australia to build a national voice for contemporary arts.

National Symposia

Leading the national agenda

Future Forward panel 2014. Photo: Joan Cameron-Smith

Photo: Joan Cameron-Smith

NAVA provides opportunities for the Australian visual arts sector to meet as a community, have a national conversation, learn from and be inspired by some of the best ideas from overseas and around the country, form partnerships and networks and devise common positions from which to take action.

Resources, Guides & Factsheets

ARIs, Studios, Events

A large crowd is gathered outside a single story building with a cream facade. The lighting suggests it's early evening. The words Watch this SPACE artist run initiative is printed on the wall.

Watch this SPACE, artist run initiative, Alice Springs NT.

Looking to start an Artist Run Initiative (ARI), studio, residency program, or arts festival? This section aims to guide you in developing or finding social and creative networks of artists and communities.