Returned Albanese Government must prioritise visual arts

The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) congratulates the Albanese Government on its re-election and welcomes the Hon Tony Burke MP’s continued leadership as Minister for the Arts.

The Government’s national cultural policy, Revive, has already set in motion vital reforms to build a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable cultural future. As implementation progresses, NAVA is calling on the Government to ensure that visual arts, craft and design is fully supported through dedicated structural reform and targeted policy commitments. The next phase must focus on embedding long-term change and ensuring the sector receives the leadership and investment it needs.

Central to this is the establishment of Visual Arts Australia, a new expert-led board within Creative Australia to lead, grow, and protect the visual arts, craft and design. This reform would restore dedicated sector leadership and align the visual arts with Music Australia and Writing Australia.

“Now is the time to build a strong foundation for the visual arts,” said Penelope Benton, Executive Director of NAVA. “Visual Arts Australia would provide the sector with clear strategic direction, policy leadership, and visibility at a national level. It would ensure visual artists and arts workers are at the table when decisions are made that impact their work, livelihoods, and future.”

NAVA is also calling for the urgent appointment of a new Head of Visual Arts at Creative Australia, a role that has remained vacant since February this year. While acting staff are providing valuable support, the absence of a permanent appointment is contributing to growing uncertainty and disengagement across the sector.

“Artists deserve clarity and confidence in the institutions that support them. Resolving this leadership gap is essential,” Benton said.

NAVA also renews its call for policy commitments that will:

• Secure artists’ futures through superannuation on all artist fees, tax reform to make grants and art prizes tax-free, ensuring publicly funded projects pay artists in line with NAVA’s Code of Practice, and a pilot living wage program;
• Strengthen the visual arts workforce with investment in long-term funding, training, apprenticeships, and equity-focused initiatives; and
• Defend artistic independence by upholding peer-led decision-making, protecting freedom of expression, and regulating AI use of artists’ work.

“With Revive, the Government has shown it understands the value of the arts,” said Benton. “The next step is to embed structural support and deliver policies that give artists real security, adequate pay, and a voice in their future.”

Recent progress has shown what’s possible. The next term must be about securing the future. NAVA looks forward to continuing to work with the Government and Creative Australia to ensure the visual arts is fully supported and empowered to thrive.