The Association of Sculptors of Victoria is an inclusive, not-for-profit collective of contemporary artists whose purpose is to inspire,stimulate and advance the appreciation, creation, and exploration of three-dimensional art in society.

Extracts from the NAVA newsletter

Festivals Australia- Call for Applications

All States | Deadline: 15 Feburuary, 2008

Festivals Australia provides funding assistance to Australian regional and community festivals for the presentation of quality projects. Funding is available to add a new or special sort of cultural activity that has never been included in the festival before and could not otherwise be afforded.

Festivals Australia Regional Residencies provides assistance to regional and remote communities that wish to 'tell a local story or express a local theme', at a local festival or major community celebration. Funding is available to engage an artist in residence to work with community participants to help them develop an arts project on a local or regional theme and present it publicly at the festival or celebration.

Contact Phone: 02 6271 1922 Lois Wishart Lindsay

Contact Email: festivals.australia@dcita.gov.au

Disarming The Gatekeepers: Revolution or Backward Step?

SA | 6 March, 2008

Hosted by NAVA and Arts Law as part of Artists' Week at the 2008 Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts

Visual arts and craft/design professionals are operating in an increasingly regulated environment, from copyright and anti-terrorism legislation to industry codes of practice.

The two sessions in this forum will address how regulation can help or hinder artists and arts institutions; how other industries use regulation to advantage and where the visual arts either needs, or should oppose, regulation.

Speakers are Prof. Jon Altman, ANU; Daniel Boyd, artist; Julie Copeland, ABC Radio National; James Dodd, artist; Michael Keighery, artist; and Commissioner John Martin from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commissioner. The forum is funded by Arts SA and will be chaired by Delwyn Everard, Arts Law and Tamara Winikoff, NAVA.

The sessions have been structured so there will be plenty of opportunity for discussion from the floor. Papers from the sessions will be made available to the industry and government through NAVA, and will inform NAVA's future policy and regulatory work.

When: Thurs March 6, 2008 10am - 1:30pm

Web address: http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/ and http://www.visualarts.net.au

NAVA hit the ground running after the Federal Election:

The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) today welcomed and congratulated the incoming Labor government, pledging its commitment to work with the new Arts Minister to strengthen the Australian visual arts sector’s contribution to the cultural life of the country.

NAVA’s Executive Director Tamara Winikoff said, “Labor has opened new areas of possible development in its broad-ranging plans for the future of the arts in Australia.”

Among their priorities, we hope to see the new Prime Minister and other members of the government, champion the cause of the arts and its vital contribution to expression of a national identity of which we all can be proud,” Winikoff said.

After years of disappointment, finally Australian visual artists will see one of their long held ambitions realised, with the introduction of the Artists Resale Royalty Scheme. This will bring them into parity with artists in England, across the whole European Union and a number of other parts of the world.

As part of Labor’s Education Revolution, putting ‘visuacy’ on a par with literacy and numeracy would recognise the reality of communication in the 21st century. Technology has radically changed the way we connect with one another and transmit and interpret ideas and information,” Winikoff said. “When it is finalised, we look forward to discussing with both Education and Arts Ministers, their response to the recommendations of the National Review of Visual Education & commitment to the Education and the Arts Statement”.

NAVA believes that the current version of sedition law poses a considerable threat to artists’ freedom of expression. It asks that the new Attorney General not only removes the word ‘sedition’, but also makes all the changes recommended by the Australian Law Reform Commission.

As an important support mechanism for artists trying to build their careers, NAVA strongly endorses the proposed ArtStart social security scheme to change the way Centrelink deals with artists.

Labor’s commitments to funding for the Indigenous Art Centres is a most welcome promise. In partnership with Desart and ANKAAA, NAVA will be seeking further support for bringing their work to practical application on the Indigenous Australia Art Commercial Code of Conduct,” continued Winikoff.

In terms of other financial commitments, NAVA will be looking for $3 million per annum for the payment of artists’ fees for work exhibited public galleries in order to properly remunerate artists for making their work available to the community at no cost.

NAVA also calls for an annual allocation of $4 million for smaller arts organisations to keep pace with technological developments in on-line management, communication & information systems.

There are many good ideas in Labor’s arts policy and we look forward to helping them take effect,” commented Winikoff.

For media comment contact Merrilee Kessler - ph: (02) 9368 1900

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