Industry REPORTs

The Code of Practice for Visual Arts, Craft and Design sets out equitable, ethical and self-reflective standards for the professional Australian contemporary arts sector.  

The Code covers good practice approaches to working relationships, ethical standards of access and inclusion, and payment rates for artists and arts workers.

The visual arts, craft and design sector is dynamic, diverse and multifaceted, but its lack of regulation and legislation, combined with increasingly precarious conditions makes work and practice unsustainable for many. 

The Code serves as a map for ensuring a collaborative, equitable, creative, and inclusive sector for current and future participants. It also doubles as an advocacy tool to support the basis of policy and legislative change for the long-term benefit of the sector. 

Some of the good practices in the Code are aspirational ethical standards that the sector has collectively agreed we should work towards. Like many arts organisations NAVA is also working towards good practice in our own strategies, budgets, policies and procedures.

Full Revision
Since its first publication in 2001, the Code has been updated incrementally in response to specific needs and changes. The 2022 revision represents the first full and comprehensive review since 2009. NAVA will maintain the Code as a living document, continuing to adapt and evolve in response to developments in the sector. 

The new Code has been restructured, and significantly expanded, with a new section covering Principles, Ethics and Rights reflecting the industry’s growing concern with issues of justice, access, fair work and representation.

Each chapter includes a summary of good practice recommendations, followed by a detailed discussion of responsibilities, recommended processes, case studies and resources.

Image: Illustration by Claudia Chinyere Akole © 2022

ID: A colourful graphic line illustration of trees, an art gallery and people all engaging in work related to the arts.