This report, another in the Review Cycle, was commissioned in 2001 by then Minister for the Arts and the Centenary of Federation, Peter McGauran, and chaired by Rupert Myer. It explored opportunities to ‘to identify key issues impacting on the future sustainability, development and promotion’ of the visual arts and crafts sector recognising that:
Visual arts and crafts are major contributors to Australian culture and the Australian economy, yet at the same time, visual artists and crafts people are amongst the lowest income earners in Australia. This inquiry … will give us a comprehensive picture of the sector and what can be done by all tiers of government to ensure its continued development in the future.
The report concluded that the sector required an injection of funding:
… for individual artists and their supporting infrastructure from corporate sponsorship and private philanthropy. This is not intended as a substitute for government support but as a critical supplement.
It was a broad ranging inquiry into the estimated 20,000 visual artists and craft practitioners as well as curators, arts writers, arts organisations and galleries. Despite the enthusiasm and dynamism of the sector, the inquiry found that financial foundations were generally vulnerable even though the sector was estimated to contribute approximately $160 million to GDP. There was concern in the sector that its contribution was not ‘sufficiently valued’ and its achievements not ‘adequately acknowledged’. A comprehensive analysis of the sector was compiled.
A wide range of recommendations were made, including:
increased government funding across all tiers;
implementation of a resale royalty scheme;
revision of taxation liabilities of artists;
revision of copyright provisions;
protection of indigenous copyright and intellectual property rights;
strengthen the role of arts and crafts organisations to provide supportive environment for artists;
extend schemes for touring, exhibitions and audience development; and
implement schemes to encourage sponsorship and philanthropy (such as tax incentives and a cultural gifts program).
In all, an extra $29 million was injected into the sector. While the spirit of the report was accepted and some recommendations adopted, more recent studies of artists’ incomes and infrastructural support suggest that major reform of this sector has not occurred.