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.

Australian Government Coat of Arms

ATTORNEY-GENERAL
THE HON PHILIP RUDDOCK MP

MINISTER FOR THE ARTS AND SPORT
SENATOR THE HON ROD KEMP

9 May 2006

New Support For Australia 's Visual Artists

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock and Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, have announced $6 million over four years in the 2006–07 Budget to support visual artists as an alternative to a resale royalty scheme.

The initiative includes a $0.5 million per annum training package to help visual artists enhance their engagement with the commercial arts market and an additional $1 million per annum to the National Arts and Crafts Industry Support (NACIS) programme to strengthen the significant Indigenous arts industry in regional and remote communities.

The Government carefully considered the issue of a possible resale royalty scheme and concluded that a resale royalty right would not provide a meaningful source of income for the majority of Australia 's artists.

This initiative will instead provide targeted support to individual artists. It will allow a broad range of artists to gain valuable business skills to help them successfully develop and manage their careers. These skills will empower artists to put effective strategies in place to obtain greater income from their work.

The Government considered the effectiveness of a resale royalty scheme following the recommendations of the 2002 Contemporary Visual Arts and Craft Inquiry and in light of submissions in response to the discussion paper it released in July 2004.

Research shows that resale royalty schemes bring most benefit to successful late career artists and the estates of deceased artists.

It would bring little advantage to the majority of Australian artists whose work rarely reaches the secondary art market and would also adversely affect commercial galleries, art dealers, auction houses and investors.

One of the main arguments put forward in support of resale royalty was that Indigenous artists are particularly disadvantaged by the secondary sales market. Research shows, however, that a resale royalty scheme would not end disadvantage for Indigenous artists.

The new initiative directly addresses the issue by enhancing the critical support Indigenous art centres provide to individual artists. This will be achieved through increased funding to the existing NACIS program. These art centres offer a place where artists are not exploited, and their skills and talents are nurtured, developed and appropriately remunerated.

The initiative builds on the Government's existing commitment of $19.5 million for the Visual Arts and Crafts Strategy as part of the $39 million partnership with the states and territories.

Now in its third year, the Strategy is making a positive impact on visual arts and craft infrastructure around the country, as well as market development activities in the Indigenous arts sector and for individual artists.

The Government has also supported initiatives that enhance the work environment for artists, including the extension of the term of copyright and the release of a public tax ruling on what it means to be carrying on an arts business.

The Government will continue to provide meaningful and even-handed support to artists. The new initiative will achieve that objective more effectively than a resale royalty scheme.

Media Contacts:

Charlie McKillop (Mr Ruddock's office) (02) 6277 7300/ 0419 278 715
Michael Christo (Senator Kemp's office) (03) 9650 7274 / 0409 040 276

Supporting Information

Why is this important?

As an alternative to resale royalty, the initiative directly addresses the needs of individual visual artists through building their commercial, marketplace and business skills, and strengthening the structures supporting the marketing and distribution of their work.

Who will benefit?

Individual visual artists across the country who will be able to access tailored business and marketing training; and
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists in regional and remote areas who will benefit from improved support and new opportunities to engage with the marketplace .

What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?

$6 million over four years:
- $2 million over four years for a tailored training package for visual artists to enhance their engagement with the commercial arts market; and
- $4 million over four years to strengthen the promising Indigenous arts industry in regional and remote communities.

What have we done in the past?

The Government's decision on resale royalty comes following release of the Resale Royalty Discussion Paper, consideration of submissions from the sector and extensive consultation.
The training package is a new initiative specifically for individual visual artists that builds on the achievements of the 2003 Visual Arts and Craft Strategy.
The Indigenous arts component of the initiative will be achieved through the existing National Arts and Crafts Industry Support (NACIS) Programme. NACIS provides direct funding support to Indigenous art centres and arts support and advocacy organisations, to assist art centres to become stronger and build a more sustainable Indigenous visual arts industry.

When will the initiative conclude?

The initiative is for four years, lapsing in 2009–10, when it will be subject to evaluation.