About this Grant Opportunity
The Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support (IVAIS) program supports a professional, viable and ethical Indigenous visual arts industry with strong participation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Some of Australia's most dynamic visual art is produced in Indigenous art centres, which enable artists to create new art, earn income, develop professional skills and connect to the art market.
Funding is delivered to four primary types of organisation including:
- art centres, mostly in remote and very remote locations
- industry service organisations
- art fairs
- arts hubs, mostly in regional or urban locations
The organisations funded through the program together form the infrastructure that provides artists with studio space, materials, art development opportunities, marketing and exhibition support, as well as a range of professional support and services for artists, art centre staff and Directors.
The IVAIS program also supports the Indigenous Art Code, an industry-led voluntary code of conduct that promotes fair and ethical trade between art dealers and Indigenous visual artists.
Funding is offered through open competitive and closed non-competitive grant opportunities. Visit the Australian Government's GrantConnect website for more information.
Grant Activity Timeframe
Grant periods range from one to five years. Long-term funded, high performing organisations may have a maximum grant period of up to five years.
Eligibility:
To be eligible an organisation must
- be one of the following entity types:
- an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006
- an organisation established through a specific piece of Commonwealth or State or Territory legislation
- a company incorporated in Australia
- a company limited by guarantee
- an incorporated association
- a not-for-profit organisation
- a publicly funded research organisation
- an Australian local government body
- State or Territory Government
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- be registered for the Goods and Services Tax, if required by the Tax Office
- have no overdue acquittals or serious breaches relating to Australian Government funding. A serious breach is one that has resulted in, or warrants, the termination of a grant agreement.
Eligible grant activities
An IVAIS grant can only be used to:
• support the operations of Indigenous visual art centres, hubs, marketing events and service organisations that provide professional support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists in the production, promotion and marketing of their art
• provide opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to develop, extend, market and generate income from their professional visual art practice
• provide employment and economic opportunities in the visual arts industry for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly in remote communities
• provide opportunities for art centre staff, artists and board members to develop professional skills and gain experience
• contribute to strengthening the Indigenous visual art industry, including the delivery of professional services and support by industry service organisations.
Arts worker employment
IVAIS grant funds are also provided for the employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts workers who typically support the day-to-day functions of an art centre including administrative assistance, studio technical assistance, artist support, art centre maintenance and cultural liaison.
When negotiating arts worker conditions, you will be required to adhere to the National Employment Standards (NES) which apply to all employees in the national system, regardless of any industrial instrument or contract of employment. You are also required to abide by minimum pay scales and make provision for superannuation, workers compensation and leave entitlements.
Who is not eligible to receive a grant?
You are not eligible to receive an IVAIS grant if you are an:
• individual
• unincorporated association
• overseas resident or organisation based outside Australia
What the grant money cannot be used for
You cannot use the grant for activities that:
• are primarily focussed on community development or cultural maintenance
• will occur outside Australia
• have already occurred
• are the primary responsibility of other Australian, State or Territory government programs.
The program does not fund visual art activities that focus on community development. As part of running a professional visual arts program, art centres and hubs that receive operational support through the IVAIS program are expected to participate in exhibitions regionally and nationally, as well as internationally where other resourcing can be found. This includes participation in Indigenous art fairs, with a focus on art sales.
Value for money
In order to ensure that the grant opportunity achieves value for money, activities must:
• respond to a demonstrated need for grant funds
• represent efficient, equitable, effective, economical and ethical use of public resources
• not duplicate activities that are, or could be, provided by other funded organisations
• provide overall public benefit.
