Senator the Hon. George Brandis S.C.

Minister for the Arts and Sport

8 May 2007

The Australian Government will ensure the continuation of its successful Visual Arts and Craft Strategy through the provision of a further $24.7 million over the next four years.

The Visual Arts and Craft Strategy provides funding to artists and visual arts and craft organisations to:

• Assist artists to produce more new work;
• Allow galleries to develop and extend their public exhibition programmes;
• Support a broader range of Indigenous visual arts centres;
• Present visual arts events and produce publications to help build the market for artists; and
• Tour contemporary art exhibitions across Australia.

The Strategy was introduced by the Government in response to Rupert Myer’s Contemporary Visual Arts and Craft Inquiry Report and following agreement at the Cultural Minister’s Council in 2003.

“This essential funding for the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy reflects the Australian Government’s commitment to the sustainability of the visual arts and craft sector and will ensure the sector continues to make a valuable social, cultural and economic contribution across the country,” the Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator George Brandis said.

Key results of the first four years of the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy include a:

• 23 per cent increase in organisations’ earned income;
• 98 per cent increase in public programmes;
• 125 per cent increase in sponsorship; and
• 41 per cent increase in gallery visitor numbers.

“I know how important this announcement is to the visual arts sector and look forward to working with them to ensure this sector continues its success,” Senator Brandis said.

Supporting Information

Visual Arts and Craft Strategy

Why is this important?

• The Visual Arts and Craft Strategy (VACS) was introduced following the Rupert Myer’s 2002 Contemporary Visual Arts and Craft Inquiry.
• In December 2003, Cultural Ministers agreed to a package of measures which would respond to the key financial recommendations of the Myer Inquiry. Ministers agreed to provide increased funding in four key areas:
  • Support for individual artists;
• • Support for infrastructure;
  • Expanding the market; and
  • Support for Indigenous art and craft.
• This commitment will continue VACS funding initiatives in these key areas in real terms for a further four years.
• Over the last four years, this has supported projects with real outcomes for the visual arts and craft sector. As a result of increased VACS support:
• • The Melbourne Art Fair has been able to attract a 24 per cent increase in visitors and generate a 31 per cent increase in sales;
  • VACS funded artists Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro were awarded the Samstag International Visual Arts Scholarship in 2005;
  • The visual arts Biennale of Sydney attracted a record 316,000 visits in 2006;
  • The Australian Centre for Craft and Design increased non-government revenue and sponsorship by 153 per cent in 2006; and
  • Craft Victoria, from a VACS investment of $70,000, has generated $744,000 turnover from its ambitious South Project.
• In the longer-term, this continuing funding will build resilience, capacity and sustainability for the sector, so it can continue to make an important contribution to Australia's economy and a vital contribution to the nation's cultural life.

Who will benefit?

• Australian contemporary visual arts and craft organisations, as well as individual artists, will receive funding to develop new works, build the marketplace for visual arts and craft and sustain an infrastructure which supports development of the entire sector.
• Australian audiences and communities, including in regional areas, through educational and public programmes and increased exhibition and touring activities.
• Indigenous Australians, particularly in remote communities where art centres are a vital part of economic and cultural life.

What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?

• Funding of $24.7 million from the Australian Government has been committed over the next four years.

What have we done in the past?

• Australian Government funding of $19.5 million for the VACS over the last four years has increased support for individual artists and helped organisations enhance their viability and sustainability.
• Organisations have been able to:
• • Develop 48 per cent more partnerships;
  • Increase earned income by 23 per cent;
  • Leverage a 125 per cent increase in sponsorship;
  • Increase exhibitions by 10 per cent and catalogues by 20 per cent;
  • Attract a 41 per cent increase in visitor numbers, and
  • Present 98 per cent more public programmes.
• Increases in Australian Government funding, through VACS and other programmes, have enabled Indigenous art centres and organisations to support up to 25 per cent growth in annual sales of artists’ work and extend their servicing capacity to 19 more remote communities.
• Support for major events has also increased opportunities for artists to promote their work. For example, the Melbourne Art Fair has been able to attract a 24 per cent increase in visitors and generate a 31 per cent increase in sales as a result of additional funding through the VACS.

When will the initiative conclude?

The extension of the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy will continue through until 2010-11.

Media contact: Travis Bell - 0448 950 248