Feature Article - January/February 2008
Here to Help:
Henry Boston, with over a decade of experience in the arts, is State Manager for AbaF in Western Australia. Photo Bill Shaylor.
All over the nation the Australian Business Arts Foundation seeks to assist the arts in unique partnerships which match cultural activities with business acumen and funding. AbaF not only hopes to offer a new sustainability in the arts, but also provides an opportunity for businesses and corporations to explore and develop creativity in their own sector.
A company of the Australian government, AbaF is supported by a council of business leaders in each State. Fifteen councillors in Western Australia include the Managing Directors of Alcoa, Wesfarmers, Pilbara Iron, BankWest and West Australian Newspapers. Honorary councillors are Michael Chaney AO, and Janet Homes á Court AC.
"It's a matter of identifying good fits," says Henry Boston, State Manager for AbaF in Western Australia, who says both the arts and business community benefit from partnerships. "Artists and arts organisations can benefit from the skills or funding available in the business sector, while the business sector can gain greater understanding of the creative process. Art can appear to be produced by magic, but through partnerships and activities AbaF can raise awareness of how art is developed. In many cases where businesses volunteer skills to the arts sector, the association with art brings new creative thinking." Henry said volunteers became quite excited about working outside their comfort zone with artists and arts organisations, the injection of creative thinking flowing on to their own work.
Roebourne artist Murinba James, winner of Best Overall Artwork in the 2006 Cossack Art Award with Mike Spreadborough from Pilbara Iron. For fifteen years a partnership between the Shire of Roebourne and Rio Tinto Iron Ore has delivered what is now Australia's richest regional art prize offering $70,000 in prize money in 2007. Photo Christian Sprogue.
AbaF generates sustainability in the arts through three programs: Partnering, Volunteering and Giving. Partnering
connects business with the cultural sector, providing information and advice, builds relationships, and explores the possibilities of partnerships. Volunteering creates opportunities for business and the arts to work together by providing specialist corporate expertise to the cultural sector. The Giving program administers the Australia Cultural Fund which receives tax deductible donations from individuals and business, which is then distributed into the cultural sector via grants. New programs at AbaF offer information on how to access foundations and bequests, identifying the brand values of potential partners before approaching them, and assistance in gaining best outcomes with the media.
While AbaF postures itself as supporting not-for-profit cultural activities, the definition appears wide. Artists seeking funding for an exhibition is seen as not-for- profit as there is no guarantee of sales. Local government councils or commercial enterprises which inject funds into cultural activities without expectation of covering costs also qualify for assistance. If you are not sure if you qualify Henry says, "talk to us." At AbaF you'll find a friendly ear with good advice as artist Lynne Tinley recently discovered.
"I went to an AbaF workshop for artists last year and made contact. They have been really, really helpful in guiding me through attracting sponsors for an exhibition in April this year titled Magic of the Burrup at Kingfisher Gallery in West Perth," said Lynne who found grants through ArtsWA difficult to attract.
"I prepared a letter to potential sponsors and AbaF were really efficient in offering tips and helping me put together a strong proposal. They also added information on their website. I sent the letter out to fifty potential donors. I probably would have attracted more than the $2000 I received if I had followed up the letters," said Lynne.
artists from Heart of Gold (www.heartofgold.net.au), left Tarryn Gill and Pilar Mata Dupont at the 2007 Erotica Art Award Exhibition, an AbaF partnership between AdultShop.com and Artrage.
"I think it's good for artists to get over the idea of asking for funding. It's a win-win situation because the donation is tax deductible and donors feel they can support the arts without acquiring works. The funds are directed to AbaF which pays the artist and provides documentation to the donor. A few people were a bit cynical thinking AbaF takes a commission from the transaction between donor and artist, but there is no fee, and all services offered by AbaF are free. I feel not enough people know about AbaF's activities."
In Western Australia alone AbaF generated almost $1m in contributions to the arts during the 2006/2007 year, with over 400 business representatives attending activities organised by AbaF. In comparison, 294 people from arts organisations attended Business and Giving workshops, and 114 artists attended workshops in Perth, Bunbury and Midland. The Artist Business Program one-day workshops offer practical advice from industry experts on topics such as how to present your art to galleries and collectors, and how to promote your art through the media. The next workshops for artists are planned for this April in Margaret River, Stirling and Perth.
Artists can also take advantage of advicelink (phone 1300 794 191, email advicelink@abaf.org.au) a phone and email business referral service for visual artists, or visit AbaF's online services which also provides business knowledge through fact sheets at www.abaf.org.au