Agony Aunt: NAVA vs IWCN
Dear Agony Aunt,
A straightforward question I hope: how is the Inner West Creative Network (IWCN) different from the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA).
Thanks
New in Newtown
Dear New in Newtown,
The two entities have a lot in common but are very different in scope and ways of working. The major differences are that NAVA is a 40 year old peak national advocacy organisation and professional association, representing the interests of the Australian visual arts, craft and design sectors across the whole country. IWCN is a new local Inner West Sydney network specifically giving hands on assistance to artists and creatives across all forms of creative activity including performance (music, dance drama), writing, visual and screen arts.
The Inner West local government area is recognised as a vibrant hub of creative activity with its many small businesses, performance venues and exhibition spaces, festivals and other public events. The IWCN was only launched 18 months ago but already has over 400 members and growing. Its purpose is to publicise the work of its members and provide services to build their professional expertise, provide them with a mechanism for connecting with each other, and to help them effectively reach out to audiences, clients, commissioners, sponsors and other supporters. For this reason it runs a series of events which regularly offer opportunities for creatives to enhance the business aspects and sustainability of their practice. Art making can be a lonely business so IWCN also provides opportunities for creatives to meet up with their peers to have fun together, build their networks, and exchange ideas and expertise in an informal social environment.
As you may know, one of IWCN’s purposes is to profile the work of local creatives both through an on-line directory for members and through public events like the Celebrate South King Street project in 2023. There are plans to gradually expand this aspect of its activities. IWCN also undertakes some advocacy to those who can provide support, and its work has been consistently and enthusiastically supported by Inner West Council.
In contrast, a huge part of NAVA’s work is to be the national voice of the Australian visual arts sector and to secure policy and legislation which supports the growth and development of both creators and the infrastructure that supports them. It constantly challenges the popular view that art making is recreation rather than real work. It brings together the many voices of the contemporary visual arts sector to improve fundamental conditions of work and practice through advocacy, education and the Code of Practice.
The Code sets out equitable and ethical standards for the professional Australian contemporary arts sector. Through application of this Code, (now endorsed by the federal government), NAVA works to entrench fair pay for artists and improvements in their working conditions.
To ensure fair pay standards, NAVA is currently working to secure an Award for the visual arts (through the Modern Awards Review) After years of lobbying, NAVA also secured the recognition of professional arts activity as meeting Centrelink’s mutual obligation requirements. This includes applying for a grant, submitting an application for an exhibition, meeting a curator about commissioned artwork, or volunteering at a gallery.
Over its long history, NAVA has negotiated legislation to protect creators’ copyright and moral rights as well as introduction of the resale royalty (which pays artists a fee each time their work is resold on the secondary market). It also persuaded the ATO to adopt a public ruling which enables professional artists for income tax purposes, to claim their art making expenses against all forms of income1 . It ensures that the professional status of artists is measured against a broad range of arts industry criteria rather than just profit making alone.
NAVA also provides a range of resources including a set of authoritative guides on many aspects of professional practice https://visualarts.net.au/guides/. Another invaluable service is NAVA’s heavily discounted national insurance scheme covering public liability, products liability, property in custody or control, tenants liability and personal accident.
For other artforms there are some similar national advocacy and service organisations to NAVA, but they all took a severe hit when federal funding to the arts was cut in 2013. This resulted in the loss of several essential service bodies, though under the current government the funding has been restored to 2013 levels. But more of that another time…..
While this is not an exhaustive list of what IWCN and NAVA have to offer, I hope it clarifies how they differ from one another. Each plays an essential role in the Australian arts ecology. If you have received this Newsletter you have probably already become an IWCN member. If not, to access a range of great services and resources and build your professional networks, you should join and get your creative Inner Westie friends to keep you company.
1 Tax Ruling: carrying on business as a professional artist (TR 2005/1)
https://www.ato.gov.au/law/view/documentdocid=TXR/TR20051/NAT/ATO/00001#:~:text=This Ruling applies to professional,(a)