Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
AGWA Foundation Stimulus Package
In support of the WA arts community during the COVID-19 pandemic, the AGWA Board and the AGWA Foundation have announced a sector-leading stimulus package of up to $1.5 million for Western Australian artists.
Through funding from the AGWA Foundation, the new initiative will provide support for all living West Australian artists represented in the State Art Collection and Aboriginal art centres across the State.
More than 350 Western Australian artists represented in the State Art Collection will receive $2,000 towards creating a richer State Art Collection archive. This will generate up-to-date, online archival content, focusing on expanded artist biographies, artist statements and extended insights into artistic practice.
In addition, independent and art centre-based Aboriginal artists will share up to $525,000 through a targeted acquisition program to purchase existing works from up to 15 independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and from 25 Aboriginal art centres.
In total, more than 400 Western Australian artists will directly benefit from the initiative, injecting up to $1.5 million into the arts sector economy.
The initiative will support the development of the State Art Collection, provide an invaluable and much-needed digital archive, and support the Aboriginal artist community whose market has been disproportionately affected by the pandemic restrictions.