We the undersigned, respectfully request the Commonwealth Government to mandate the payment of artists’ fees for the loan or new commissioning of artists’ works for exhibition in public galleries and art spaces.

We request that the payment level be required to accord with arts industry best practice standards as published in the Code of Practice for the Professional Australian Visual Arts, Craft and Design Sector.

In addition, we request that the Government provide adequate additional financial support specified for this purpose, to be allocated through the Australia Council to assist especially small to medium arts organisations to meet this obligation.

We believe that Australian artists deserve to be better respected and appropriately remunerated for the contribution they make to public culture and the public’s enjoyment of their work.