Arts and culture

Arts and culture co-operatives

• Can deliver improved pay and conditions for artists
• Enable creative industries workers to share resources, back-office services and infrastructure
• Provide solidarity with like-minded creatives
• Involve the community or consumers in ethical purchasing

Can deliver improved pay and conditions for artists

As workers within a precarious, gig-based sector, many creative industries professionals are sole traders who are not protected by a national award. Arts co-ops can help to establish viable working conditions and fair rates of pay, which will help to secure the longevity of Australia’s creative workforce.

Examples are Stocksy and London Philharmonic Orchestra

Enable creative industries workers to share resources, back-office services and infrastructure

Equipment, tools and administrative support as well as gallery space and performance venues are essential elements of artistic practice. However, they can be prohibitively expensive for artists to fund independently. Arts co-ops allow members to access a shared pool of resources and reduce the overheads of their individual creative practice.

Examples are Smart, ArchiTeam and Shopfront Arts Co-op

Provide solidarity with like-minded creatives

The creative industries fuel our sense of national culture and identity, but an arts career can be a lonely journey for individual artists. By joining together with other creatives from across Australia, artists access a rich community of knowledge, support and camaraderie, and gain inspiration from one another.

Examples are Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative and PBS FM

Involve the community or consumers in ethical purchasing

Communities or consumers can band together to access and promote arts and cultural activities. This allows for the consideration of all stakeholders. This may help artists as a more ethical channel to promote and sell their work. A good example of this is the community-owned and operated PBS FM in Melbourne.

Photo purchased from Stocksy co-op. Photographer: Magida El-Kassis.