Be part of the solution: Tax creating a sustainable art sector

Griffith University has been commissioned by Arts Queensland to undertake a study of taxation regimes to strengthen the sustainability of the Australian arts sector. A suite of potential tax reforms are being explored of benefit to creatives, arts organisations, major presenting and collecting institutions, collectors, philanthropists and benefactors.

Brett Freudenberg is the lead researcher and the first three in a series of five reports are available here. The full series will be available by July 2009.

The third report concludes with 47 recommendations, some of which suggest tax reforms and others outline practical strategies to assist the arts. This report also details a survey conducted to ascertain opinions, awareness and attitudes to taxation and potential reforms.

Thank you to the 236 people who completed this survey, and also to those key stakeholders who were interviewed. This is an important initiative and your contributions are highly valued. If you would like to talk to someone directly about the potential tax reforms please contact Brett Freudenberg, phone: 07 3382 1196 or email: Brett Freudenberg

Action to date:

• Findings from the first two reports were discussed in a lively industry presentation on 12 March 2009.
• Recommendations from the third report include 18 proposed reforms to the Australian taxation regime.
• This study is a significant input into national research. In 2009, Arts Queensland partnered with the Centre for Social Impact, University of New South Wales initiating a national research partnership responding to key action areas identified by the Creative Australia Stream at the 2020 Summit (April 2008).
• Based on a robust analysis of existing models of arts support for individual artists, other regimes and their effectiveness internationally, this work will investigate new and improved financing and funding opportunities for arts in Australia.Particularly, it will explore the feasibility of an Endowment of the Arts. It will also examine the relevance of revolving loan scheme model for investment in arts productions which is an idea raised in the Queensland 2020 forum hosted by the Premier in May 2008.