NAVA calls for stronger support for artists in next National Cultural Policy
NAVA calls for a national sector review, tax and superannuation reforms, stronger First Nations investment, arts education rebuilding, and improved cultural infrastructure.
NAVA has submitted a comprehensive response to the Federal Government’s consultation on the next National Cultural Policy, drawing on feedback from more than 350 Members and industry colleagues through national consultation workshops, sector meetings and NAVA’s ongoing advocacy and policy work.
The submission argues that while Revive restored national leadership in arts and cultural policy and delivered important reforms, many of the structural challenges affecting artists and the visual arts sector remain unresolved. Artists continue to face low incomes, insecure work, rising costs and poor retirement outcomes, while galleries, museums, First Nations art and culture centres, artist-run initiatives, arts schools and service organisations experiencing growing financial strain as operating costs continue to outpace funding.
Despite visual arts and craft being among the most widely practised and attended forms of arts participation, NAVA argues that the sector is not receiving policy attention proportionate to its scale and contribution.
Among NAVA’s recommendations are:
- A comprehensive national review of the visual arts, craft and design sector, the first since the 2002 Myer Inquiry, to provide an evidence base for future policy and investment
- Reforms to taxation and superannuation that better support artists’ careers
- Strengthening First Nations leadership, investment and self-determination in the visual arts
- Protecting freedom of artistic expression
- Rebuilding arts education and workforce pathways
- Investing in galleries, museums, artist-run initiatives, touring and other cultural infrastructure that connects artists with audiences
- Applying meaningful indexation to multi-year operational funding so organisations can meet rising wages, artist fees and operating costs
- Improved accessibility and equity across the visual arts, craft and design sector.
The submission also calls on the Government to demonstrate its commitment to artists by commissioning and appropriately remunerating a living Australian artist or collective of artists to create the cover artwork for the next National Cultural Policy.
Thank you
NAVA thanks everyone who contributed through our National Cultural Policy workshops, consultations and sector discussions. Your contributions strengthened the evidence and recommendations presented in this submission.
The full submission is available below.
Image credit
Amy Prcevich, On the Clock, 2025 (installation view) - ongoing, electrical tape on grid paper, paper, pine, publication. 42 hours 13 minutes (and counting) of unwaged labour. Photo by Jessica Maurer.
Currently showing as part of Break-Even Point with works by Sophia Cai, Benita Laylim and Daniel Sherington at Firstdraft until 4 July 2026.
ID: Grid paper pinned to in a row to an exhibition wall, featuring red and blue text listing labour rights and entitlements including: "A Living Wage," "Paid Leave," "Annual Leave," "Cultural Leave," "Carer's Leave," "Parental Leave," and "Personal Leave."
