National Association for the Visual Arts

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.

Creative Victoria funding for artists and small-to-medium cultural organisations has declined by 35% in real terms since 2022. The campaign highlights the impact of declining investment on artists’ livelihoods and the sustainability of independent and small-to-medium arts organisations. Don’t Break Our Arts is an artist and arts worker-led campaign seeking to put arts funding on the agenda for the 2026 Victorian state election.

A new survey released today aims to build a national picture of craft and design practice in Australia — and it needs your voice. The data collected will help sector organisations advocate for practitioners and make a stronger case for funding, opportunities, education, business support and policy change.

On 22 September 2026, NAVA will launch a new Member Portal, designed to improve how Members access and manage their Membership and how NAVA engages with Members. Developed over several years, the new system is a significant investment in NAVA’s Membership services and has been built specifically around the needs of NAVA Members.

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.

Last month, NAVA welcomed a significant Fair Work Commission decision that will see arts expressly recognised in the title of a federal modern award. NAVA has been reviewing the draft determination in detail, drawing on pro bono legal advice from Holding Redlich and the expertise of NAVA's Board of Directors, to understand how the proposed changes would apply across the visual arts sector.

Senate inquiry into artificial intelligence and data centres Submissions closed 1 September 2026 The Senate Environment and Communications References Committee is examining the growth of AI and data centres in Australia, including existing regulation and impacts on communities, industries, energy, water and the environment.

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.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 passed through the Senate last night, with significant implications for Disabled visual artists and arts workers, and for the carers and support workers in the visual arts community. The Bill amends the NDIS Act 2013 with the stated aim of making the scheme more sustainable by curbing NDIS spending growth by $37.7 billion over four years.

NAVA welcomes a provisional decision by the Fair Work Commission that would see the arts explicitly recognised in a federal modern award and visual arts work more clearly reflected in its classifications. Released on Friday 14 August, the decision seeks to rename the Amusement, Events and Recreation Award 2020 as the Amusement, Recreation, Events and Arts Award (AREA) 2020. It follows more than three years of advocacy through the Fair Work Commission's review.