There are currently thirty-two designated key organisations supported through the Australian, State and Territory Governments' Visual Arts and Craft Strategy (VACS), of which seven are Victorian.
These organisations are generally supported through a negotiated agreement between the organisation, the Australia Council (the Australian Government's arts funding body) and the relevant State Government funding body, which for the Victorian companies is Arts Victoria.
The Victorian organisations currently supported are:
- Australian Centre for Contemporary Art
- Centre for Contemporary Photography
- Craft Victoria
- Experimenta
- Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces
- Melbourne Art Fair
- Asialink (receives key organisations funding from the Australia Council only, and is supported by Arts Victoria through the International program)
Application to this funding category is by invitation only. This will be at the discretion of the Australia Council's Visual Arts Board in consultation with Arts Victoria.
The current VACS agreement runs until 2011. No new VACS agreements will be undertaken during this time.
Prospective organisations should contact the Director of the Visual Arts Board of the Australia Council to discuss their future eligibility.
Organisations that are funded through the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy have rigorous reporting requirements and other responsibilities commensurate with their high profile status and the level of Government funding they receive.
These responsibilities are outlined in the tripartite agreement between the organisation, the Australia Council and Arts Victoria.
They include:
- Submitting four-year business plans, annual program plans, detailed budgets and cash flow forecasts.
- A range of half-yearly and annual reports around the organisation's operations, financials, governance and artistic program.
- Public acknowledgement of the Victorian (as well as Australian Government) support, through use of logos and text acknowledgement.
- Public acknowledgement of the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, through use of the VACS logo and text.
- Submitting statistical information annually to Arts Victoria's Victorian Arts Industry Checklist .
Logos and Text Acknowledgement
Logos
The Arts Victoria logo deviceThe Arts Victoria logo device is made up of two elements:1. The Arts Victoria logo and 2. The Victorian Government logoThe Arts Victoria logo must always appear with the Victorian Government logo. must be included on all promotional materials produced by the grant recipient in relation to the funded activity.
These may include (but are not restricted to):
- Posters, fliers and brochures
- Advertisements
- Invitations
- Information and education kits
- Signage
- Programs and catalogues
- Websites.
The size and position of the logo should be commensurate with the level of funding provided by the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria in relation to other supporters.
The Arts Victoria logo device is available in a variety of formats, please take note of the guidelines for its use.
Text Acknowledgement
The following text acknowledgement should be use in any speeches, media releases, interviews and other circumstances where a logo may not be possible:
[This organisation is] supported by the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria
Visual Arts and Craft Strategy Acknowledgement
In addition to acknowledgement of Victorian Government support through Arts Victoria (and Australia Council acknowledgement requirements), the organisation is required to acknowledge the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy by using the following logo deviceThe Visual Arts and Craft Strategy logo device is made up of three elements:1. The Australian Government logo 2. The Victorian Government logo3. The words 'Visual Arts and Craft Strategy'All elements must appear together. and text in all promotional materials (as outlined above).
The Visual Arts and Crafts Strategy logo device is available in a variety of formats, please take note of the guidelines for its use.
VACS Text Acknowledgment
"[Name of Organisation] is supported by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments."
Victorian Arts Industry Checklist
All organisations funded through this category must report annually through the Victorian Arts Industry Checklist . The Checklist is Arts Victoria's statistical database that collects and records information from recurrently funded organisations on employment, financials, attendances, events, volunteer and member involvement, programming and more.
The data is used to analyse an organisation's performance over time, and to monitor overall industry and sector trends.
Aggregate Checklist data is published in the Research and Resources section of this website.
Victorian visual arts organisations who currently receive VACS funding should contact:
Julie Cotter
Senior Arts Officer
Arts Victoria
T: 03 9954 5098
julie.cotter@dpc.vic.gov.au
Prospective organisations wishing to discuss their eligibility should contact:
The Director of the Visual Arts Board of the Australia Council
T: 02 9215 9169
vab@australiacouncil.gov.au