National Association for the Visual Arts

NAVA is proud to support a network of over 50,000 artists, arts workers, galleries, arts organisations and industry bodies. More than 4,200 are paid Members, while thousands more stay connected through NAVA's free communications. This helps ensure NAVA remains informed by the broader visual arts community. As an organisation, NAVA operates on the feedback provided to us through our bi-annual Membership survey.

The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) acknowledges the Gadigal, Wangal, Dharug, Dharawal, and Dja Dja Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners, Custodians and knowledge-holders of the unceded lands on which current NAVA staff live, learn and work. The NAVA Board, and artists whom we represent are based across hundreds of sovereign nations and unceded lands throughout the continent that has become colonially known as Australia.

As governments increasingly recognise that art is work, it is more important than ever that Australia's data accurately reflects the visual arts workforce. On Tuesday 11 August, millions will complete the 2026 Census. For the visual arts sector, it is an opportunity to build a clearer picture of Australia's artists, craft practitioners, designers and arts workers.

The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) welcomes today's announcement by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that the Australian Government will establish national AI standards and legislate to ensure Australian artists retain ownership and control of their work. In a major speech today, the Prime Minister stated that no company should use Australian art, books, music or news to build or train AI without the creator's control, including control over the price and value of their work.

NAVA has today added a range of updates to the Code of Practice for Visual Arts, Craft and Design (the Code), including increased Payment Standards, new guidance supporting artist parents, carers, and support workers, additional Auslan resources and updates to legislative information. The annual review helps ensure the Code continues to reflect current industry practice, legal developments and the needs of artists, arts workers and organisations across the visual arts, craft and design sector.

The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) acknowledges the Gadigal, Wangal, Dharug, Dharawal, and Dja Dja Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners, Custodians and knowledge-holders of the unceded lands on which current NAVA staff live, learn and work. The NAVA Board, and artists whom we represent are based across hundreds of sovereign nations and unceded lands throughout the continent that has become colonially known as Australia.

Matilda Nona is a proud Badhulgal/Maluyligal woman from Badhu Island, Torres Strait. Her works on paper engage with Torres Strait Islander stories, traditions and cultural practices, from new perspectives. To celebrate 50 Years of Deadly, Matilda Nona’s linoprint, ‘Kaimelan Mab’, meaning ‘together we walk’, shares a story with many layers of the strength and continuity of Badhu culture and the ongoing journey of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We are Australia’s songwriters, recording artists, authors, journalists, photographers, producers, visual artists, composers, screenwriters, playwrights and creative industry businesses. We make the songs that end up on every streaming platform, the photographs that document our lives, the books and scripts and artworks that define our culture, the TV and film productions that light up our screens, and the stories that uncover and tell the truth about our nation.

Floods, fires, heatwaves and drought are increasingly affecting the conditions in which artists live and work. Climate anxiety, ecological grief, disaster trauma and chronic uncertainty have become features of daily life for millions of artists, arts workers and organisations, while those least responsible for the crisis are often experiencing its most severe consequences. Art has always been central to contributing to social change.

The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) acknowledges the Gadigal, Wangal, Dharug, Dharawal, and Dja Dja Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners, Custodians and knowledge-holders of the unceded lands on which current NAVA staff live, learn and work. The NAVA Board, and artists whom we represent are based across hundreds of sovereign nations and unceded lands throughout the continent that has become colonially known as Australia.