National Association for the Visual Arts

National Association for the Visual Arts
Name	National Association for the Visual Arts
Acronym	NAVA
Founded	1983
Headquarters	Australia
Region served	Australia
Focus	Visual arts advocacy, professional development, policy

National Association for the Visual Arts is an Australian peak body representing professional artists, galleries, museums, art schools, and arts workers across Australia. It serves as an advocacy, service and information hub linking practitioners with institutions such as the Australian Council for the Arts, Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Gallery of Victoria, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and regional organisations including Bundanon Trust, TACSI, TarraWarra Museum of Art and MONA. NAVA has engaged with national policy debates alongside entities like Australia Council for the Arts, Creative Australia and state arts ministries in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory.

History

NAVA was formed in the early 1980s amid sectoral discussions involving stakeholders such as the Australia Council for the Arts and unions like the Australian Council of Trade Unions to address concerns raised by artists from institutions including the National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of South Australia, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Queensland Art Gallery and leading tertiary providers such as the University of Melbourne and University of New South Wales. Early activity intersected with national cultural debates involving figures from Australian Council of Trade Unions, policy shifts after the Whitlam Government cultural initiatives, and responses to funding reviews linked to the Keating Government era. Over subsequent decades NAVA's work touched on projects and controversies involving the Biennale of Sydney, Melbourne Art Fair, Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival, Perth Festival, and Indigenous arts advocacy connected to organisations like Desart, Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Cooperative and Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa.

Structure and Governance

NAVA operates as a non-profit membership organisation with a board drawn from practitioners, curators and arts managers who have worked with organisations such as the National Gallery of Victoria, Macquarie University, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Australian National University, La Trobe University and artist-run initiatives like Firstdraft, Metropolitan Galleries and West Space. Its governance framework aligns with regulatory frameworks enforced by bodies such as the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and reporting expectations influenced by inquiries like the Productivity Commission reviews. Partnerships and memoranda of understanding have been formed with institutions including Arts Centre Melbourne, Sydney Opera House, Carriageworks, Artbank and philanthropic trusts such as the Ian Potter Foundation and Beswick Foundation.

Programs and Services

NAVA provides professional development, legal advice and resources for practitioners, institutions and students from programs linked to tertiary partners like the Victorian College of the Arts, National Art School, University of New South Wales Art & Design and galleries including Ivan Dougherty Gallery. Services have addressed rights and licensing issues referencing legislation such as the Copyright Act 1968 and engaged with funders such as Australia Council and trusts like the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund. Training and mentoring initiatives have intersected with festivals and markets including the Melbourne Festival, Sydney Contemporary, Sculpture by the Sea and artist-run networks like Paper Mountain.

Advocacy and Policy Influence

NAVA has campaigned on remuneration, bargaining and contract standards involving actors such as the Australian Council of Trade Unions, cultural ministers in Canberra, and statutory reviews including submissions to the Parliament of Australia and senate committees. Advocacy has focused on issues raised by practitioners exhibiting at major institutions such as National Gallery of Australia, Tate Modern collaborations, touring programs linked to the Asia-Pacific Triennial and international exchange with organisations like the British Council, Australia-Japan Foundation and Asia-Europe Foundation. Policy work has addressed Indigenous cultural rights in consultation with groups like National Indigenous Australians Agency, Aboriginal Art Centre Hub and legal bodies such as the Federal Court of Australia on matters of cultural heritage and moral rights.

Membership and Affiliates

Membership spans individual artists, curators, craftspeople, galleries, museums, educational providers and regional arts organisations including Regional Arts Australia, Country Arts SA, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Hanson Galleries, Gertrude Contemporary and artist-run spaces like Tolarno Galleries and FHg. Affiliates include unions and industry partners such as the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, philanthropic organisations like the Myer Foundation, and international networks such as the International Council of Museums, International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies and Asia-Europe Foundation.

Publications and Communications

NAVA publishes policy papers, guidance notes and surveys drawing on research methodologies and data referencing agencies like the Australian Bureau of Statistics and review processes similar to those run by the Productivity Commission and Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. Communications channels have included newsletters, policy briefings, reports and digital resources disseminated through collaborations with cultural media outlets such as Art Monthly Australia, Art Collector, The Guardian Australia arts pages, The Australian arts sections and academic journals from institutions like the University of Sydney. Public commentary has intersected with national media events including coverage of the Archibald Prize, debates at the Sydney Biennale and discussions arising from exhibitions at Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.

Awards and Events

NAVA has been involved in sector events, panels and award programs in partnership with festivals and institutions such as the Melbourne International Arts Festival, Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art, Shanghai Biennale exchanges, the Archibald Prize, Turner Prize dialogues and regional showcases at venues like Carriageworks and Brisbane Powerhouse. It has supported prize initiatives and professional development opportunities alongside funders and partners including the Ian Potter Cultural Trust, Australia Council for the Arts, City of Sydney and state arts agencies, often presenting at conferences like those hosted by the National Association for the Visual Arts sector and international forums such as the International Symposium on Electronic Art.

Category:Arts organisations based in Australia