The Hon Rod Kemp was Minister for the Arts and Sport from Friday 23 November 2001 to Tuesday 30 January 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.

Additional funding for Australia Business Arts Foundation

The Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp has announced additional funding of $1.1 million to the Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) to boost private sector support for the arts and add resources to the visual arts sector.

“This additional investment recognises the important role AbaF is playing in building the capacity of the arts and business sectors to develop mutually beneficial partnerships,” Senator Kemp said.

“It will allow AbaF to extend its successful Partnering program that connects business with the arts and cultural sector, its Volunteering program that creates opportunities for people from business and the arts to work together and its Giving program that promotes private donations to the arts.”

The new funding delivers on a budget commitment providing $500 000 to support the development of a training package to help visual artists work more closely with the commercial arts market and also includes $600 000 to strengthen AbaF’s core activities. The additional funds bring the total Australian Government funding package for AbaF to $2.7 million for 2006–07.

In the 2006-07 Budget, the Government announced funding of $6 million over four years to strengthen marketing and distribution support structures for individual artists, and to build their business skills, as an alternative to a resale royalty scheme.

This initiative includes a $500 000 per year visual artists training and information package, to include seminars and other activities for visual artists across the country. AbaF will deliver this training package in 2006–07, drawing on its expertise and experience in this area and the range of collaborations it has in place. AbaF will be consulting extensively with artists and visual arts organisations across the country to ensure the training provided is appropriate and effective.

“Not only does AbaF possess the skills and knowledge to provide this training, but it is well placed to leverage extra funds to ensure the best possible value for money outcomes from the funding Government is providing,” Senator Kemp said.

The training, which includes the development of an online resource, will be provided in capital cities in 2006–07, and is planned to extend to metropolitan and regional centres in future years. AbaF will be consulting extensively with artists and visual arts organisations across the country to ensure the training provided is appropriate and as effective.

AbaF is an Australian Government company established in 2000 to promote private sector engagement with the arts by connecting business, the arts, donors and foundations. Visit www.abaf.org.au for more information on AbaF and its activities.

3 August 2006