Looking for allies for arts governance

From the start of 2023, I began reducing my client workload in order to write – with a focus on my debut poetry collection (Public. Open. Space, Fremantle Press), the second edition of The Relationship is the Project and my independent research into rethinking arts, cultural and for-purpose governance – which will remain my focus in 2025 as I continue to develop it into a book-length manuscript.

If my work or writing has been of value to you, I’d appreciate you joining me as an advocate, ally or accomplice from just $2.50/month on Patreon).

I undertake the majority of my research, writing, advocacy and sector development work on a self-funded basis. This includes recent articles and provocations related to not-for-profit governance, such as:

As well as other free resources for the not-for-profit sector (with a particular focus on small-to-medium arts organisations and the artists and practitioners they support), such as:

As well as creative reflections and reading recommendations.

If there are particular governance issues that are irking or inspiring you, that you would like me to respond to or add into my research, or that you would like to collaborate on, I’d love to hear from you.

Shout out to my amazing patrons

Patreon is just one of the strategies writers, artists and thinkers employ to support our work. I am still new to this awkward journey, but have been overwhelmed by the support and generosity of my amazing patrons, who have included: Laurie, Kate, Alex, Jade, Jenine, Rachel, Gareth, Emma, Cassie, Lucy, Leanne, Alysha, Jill, Shantel, Kathie, Sarah, Jaclyn, Jude, Tarsha, Evrim, Adele, Simone, June, Sheridan, the TNA team, Nick, Freyja, Travis, Kim, Katherine, Bernadette, Angela, Liss, Tricie, Anne, Jaz, Suzanne and Jac.

But enough about me: let’s be allies for artistic basic income

Patreon is an awkward, exciting and overwhelming adventure that we wouldn’t need to attempt if Australia had a Liveable Income Guarantee or Basic Income that addressed practitioners’ precarious and subsistence living conditions and recognised arts and cultural workers as essential workers, with the same rights as those in other industries.

Arts participation is often talked about as a human right, but less is said about the rights of the people making that art. As artists and allies, we need to take every opportunity to lobby for a minimum basic income scheme, wage standards, job guarantees, fellowships, public employment opportunities, other forms of income support, or for Australia to follow international examples to support those who are out of work without current ‘mutual obligation’ requirements. 

We also need policy settings around arts education and training, protection of copyright and intellectual property, support for mobility and export, innovative business models, fit-for-purpose legislative, regulatory, tax and investment incentives, expanded collective bargaining rights, removal of tax on prizes and grants, and changes to superannuation and tax legislation to ensure artists receive superannuation on all client income. Read Jennifer Mills’ powerful and practical submission to the National Cultural Policy consultation for more.

Not doing so risks homogenising the types of artists who can afford to work for so little return, and making creative practice something only the wealthy and privileged can afford.

Subscribe or support

For future updates, subscribe to my free occasional enews.

If any of my work or writing has been of value to you, I’d appreciate you joining me as an advocate, ally or accomplice from just $2.50/month on Patreon).

Unknown's avatar

Author: katelarsenkeys

Writer. Rabble-rouser. Arts, Cultural and Non-Profit Consultant.

81 thoughts on “Looking for allies for arts governance”

  1. Pingback: Taking the lead – LARSEN | KEYS
  2. Pingback: Reading and writing in 2018 – LARSEN | KEYS
  3. Pingback: The numbers don’t add up: MPA Framework response – LARSEN | KEYS
  4. Pingback: A poet in Hong Kong (2018 AsiaLink Creative Exchange) – LARSEN | KEYS
  5. Pingback: Reading and writing in 2022 – LARSEN | KEYS
  6. Pingback: In Bed with Animals review – LARSEN | KEYS
  7. Pingback: Using a pseudonym – LARSEN | KEYS
  8. Pingback: Tears for peers: the hidden costs of arts funding – LARSEN | KEYS
  9. Pingback: Beyond the Governance Gaps – LARSEN | KEYS
  10. Pingback: Board members, we need to talk about Palestine – LARSEN | KEYS
  11. Pingback: Have your say on the Modern Awards Review – LARSEN | KEYS
  12. Pingback: Poetry lesson plans – LARSEN | KEYS
  13. Pingback: Doing it Differently: Fit-For-Purpose Governance Models – LARSEN | KEYS
  14. Pingback: Don’t give up your day job: why poetry has bad PR (and why you read more of it than you think) – LARSEN | KEYS
  15. Pingback: Resilience for writers: a guest blog for The Writer Laid Bare – LARSEN | KEYS
  16. Pingback: Have your say on the arts in SA – LARSEN | KEYS
  17. Pingback: On the politics of publishing – LARSEN | KEYS
  18. Pingback: Digital poetry in Australia, China and Hong Kong – LARSEN | KEYS
  19. Pingback: On profiles and platforms – LARSEN | KEYS
  20. Pingback: My 2023 writing year – LARSEN | KEYS
  21. Pingback: New Year creative reset – LARSEN | KEYS
  22. Pingback: News from The RITP team – LARSEN | KEYS
  23. Pingback: Dear arts organisations – LARSEN | KEYS
  24. Pingback: Resilience for writers – LARSEN | KEYS
  25. Pingback: Poems, place and digital space: online poetry in Australia, China and Hong Kong – LARSEN | KEYS
  26. Pingback: Introducing Public. Open. Space. – LARSEN | KEYS
  27. Pingback: And another thing: on profiles and platforms – LARSEN | KEYS
  28. Pingback: Public. Open. Space. on The Garret podcast – LARSEN | KEYS
  29. Pingback: And another thing: gaslit about arts governance – LARSEN | KEYS
  30. Pingback: Helga Svendsen | Take on Board podcast, Kate Larsen
  31. Pingback: And another thing: Meta’s Grand Theft AusLit – LARSEN | KEYS

Leave a comment