ArtsPeak welcomes creation of a new national arts voice

ArtsPeak enthusiastically welcomes the investment by the Myer Foundation, Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and the Keir Foundation into a public, expert, independent voice championing investment and return in arts and culture.

ArtsPeak is the confederation of national peak arts organisations and state arts industry bodies.

“The arts and cultural sector will be strengthened with the formation of a properly resourced and independent entity able to develop and promote evidence-based policy positions,” said Nicole Beyer, ArtsPeak spokesperson.

“Without these dedicated resources, the sector has struggled in the past to clearly articulate its value to this country.”

Tamara Winikoff, ArtsPeak spokesperson said, “We see this philanthropic initiative as a great opportunity for ArtsPeak’s national networks to contribute their experience and knowledge of the sector. We will be keen to assist the research, advocacy and policy work of the new body.”

Winikoff continued, “The Myer, Tim Fairfax Family and Keir Foundations are to be congratulated on this much needed initiative to develop a critical and well informed level of discussion around the role of arts and culture in Australia and to identify tangible actions.”

ArtsPeak understands that there will be a number of interested parties planning to submit proposals for this unique opportunity.

For such an entity to be most effective, ArtsPeak believes that it will need to develop a clear and deep understanding of a complex sector. This will require having comprehensive and meaningful relationships with Australia’s artists, arts and cultural organisations and peak bodies including First Peoples artists and organisations whose active involvement will be crucial.

ArtsPeak’s members are keen to see the new entity capitalise on the strong networks that already exist and build on the advocacy work done by the arts sector in recent years. This includes the work last year by ArtsPeak and others in response to federal budget changes, and the visioning work underway through the new ArtsFront project initiated by Feral Arts.

See the call out for proposals for this new national entity here.