NAVA advocates for better pay for arts workers in Fair Work Commission Case
In a critical submission to the FWC, NAVA recommended key changes to the Amusement, Events and Recreation Award 2020 to include and better protect arts workers.
The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) has made a critical 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). This submission is part of NAVA’s ongoing advocacy to improve pay, conditions, and recognition of art as work.
For too long, visual arts professionals have faced low wages, precarious conditions, and a lack of recognition in the industrial award framework. The FWC has acknowledged the need to clarify how the Amusement, Events and Recreation Award 2020 (Amusement Award) applies to arts workers. NAVA is pushing for meaningful changes that will provide a stronger safety net for the sector.
Key recommendations in NAVA’s submission
NAVA’s submission directly responds to the Commission’s proposed amendments, advocating for:
- Arts worker roles clearly defined within the Award’s classification structure.
- Renaming the Award to explicitly recognise arts workers and remove confusion about its scope.
- Baseline pay rates that reflect arts workers’ skills, experience and responsibilities.
- Penalty rates and overtime provisions introduced for arts workers, many of whom work long and irregular hours without proper compensation.
- Ceremonial and cultural leave to support First Nations arts workers.
Right now, many arts workers fall through the gaps of industrial protections. Some roles are misclassified or excluded from Award coverage, leading to low wages, poor working conditions, and a lack of recognition for their skills. By expanding the classification structure and adjusting wage levels, NAVA aims to secure a better deal for arts workers across the sector.
If adopted, NAVA’s recommendations will set a new standard for arts workers, ensuring that galleries, museums, and visual arts organisations are properly covered under the Award, preventing misclassification and wage exploitation. Clearer employment conditions will reduce disputes, while pay rates and penalty provisions will improve economic security for some arts workers. Most importantly, these changes will recognise art as work, ensuring that arts workers are valued and compensated for their expertise, labour, and contributions to society.
This work was made possible through the contributions of artists and sector colleagues who shared their insights via NAVA’s surveys, meetings, and one-on-one discussions. Your input has been instrumental in shaping this submission, ensuring it reflects the real needs of arts workers across Australia.
Next steps
- Replies to submissions are due by 4pm AEDT on Friday 28 March 2025.
- A case management hearing will take place on 3 April 2025.
- The Full Bench hearing is scheduled for 29-30 April 2025.
NAVA will continue advocating for arts workers as this case progresses. Follow the case via FWC Case Updates.
Image credit
Madeleine Thornton-Smith, 'REAL JOB' - as part of ceramic labour plaque series 'Don't Quit Your Day Job', 2023.
ID: A textured ceramic artwork in shades of blue, featuring raised, bold text that reads "REAL JOB" prominently in the centre. At the top of the piece, several small seashells are embedded into the ceramic.
