The Queensland Government and the Centre for Social Impact have joined forces to research one of the central themes to emerge from the Creative Australia Stream at the 2020 Summit in April 2008: how do we provide funding to support greater innovation, resilience and diversity in the Australian arts?

The Centre for Social Impact is a collaboration between the business schools of the University of New South Wales, Melbourne University and Swinburne University.

Professor Julianne Schultz, co-chair of the Creative Australia Stream and editor of Griffith REVIEW, said there is strong interest in new models of funding support for the arts and artists. There was concern that the current model limited the development of individual artists, risk-taking and at the same time constrained opportunities for philanthropists to extend the field.

“In discussions at the summit and subsequently, arts practitioners and supporters saw the need to explore new ways to link private and corporate philanthropy to the creation of original Australian work,” she said.

“There was also discussion about a range of models to provide income support, foster innovation and build links to the broader economy. This project is being undertaken because it was recognised that to turn ideas into policy serious research was needed. It is interesting to note that similar discussions are happening around the world as the global financial crisis has an impact on the sector.”

Professor Schultz said that the committed group of artists and art supporters involved in the 2020 Creative Australia Stream had framed an important question. “I am delighted that the Centre for Social Impact and the Queensland Government, through Arts Queensland, have responded so positively,” she said.

The research study will scan the arts funding system in Australia to find out if the needs of individual artists are being met and to see which programs are delivering the best outcomes for quality creative content.

Arts Queensland has already started this process by instigating a review of the impact of Australian and international taxation regimes on artists and arts organisations, to see which schemes best support artists and encourage private sector support for the arts.

Professor Peter Shergold, the Macquarie Group Foundation Chair at the Centre for Social Impact, said that the project offered exciting prospects for identifying the benefits of new forms of arts funding.

“There is a growing realisation across all economic sectors that financing models which engage the community and involve both philanthropists and Government, can provide a real difference at the source: to the workers and the creators who are the drivers of economic growth and social development,”

Professor Shergold said. “Leigh Tabrett and I share a view that the arts are fertile ground for exploring new and socially innovative ways of financing.”

Peter Shergold and Julianne Schultz are co-chairing the steering committee for the project which includes Leigh Tabrett, Deputy Director General, Arts Queensland, David Gonski, businessman and former Chair of the Australia Council, Professor David Throsby, arts economist from Macquarie University, Cathy Hunt, cultural strategist and co-director of Positive Solutions, Robyn Archer, art festival director and singer, Frank Moorhouse, writer and Professor Mark Lyons, director of research at the Centre for Social Impact.

Professor Shergold said that the range of skills and experience in the steering committee would ensure that the project addressed the key areas of research, brought real expertise to the program and would ensure the project remained focused on practical outcomes.

The report: Arts Plus: New Models, New Money will research current financing programs in Australia, both private and public, to find out who is benefiting from the funds.

It will explore models from overseas and from different sectors of the economy. It will also glean from a range of individual artists and benefactors information about the types of incentives which can help them achieve their goals.

The report will recommend options for new models of financing for further detailed exploration. It is due to be completed by mid-2009.