Tax - Creating a Sustainable Arts Industry

Arts Queensland/Griffith University, June 2009, Australia

The third report concludes with 47 recommendations, some of which suggest tax reforms and others outline practical strategies to assist the arts. This report also details a survey conducted to ascertain opinions, awareness and attitudes to taxation and potential reforms.

Brett Freudenberg is a currently a Senior Lecturer at the Griffith Business School at Griffith University (Australia). In addition to his taxation teaching, Brett is enrolled in a PhD focusing on Tax Transparent Companies. In 2006 Brett received the Fulbright Award, which saw him conduct research at the University of Illinois to analyse the proliferation of new business forms in the United States and their potential for application to Australian businesses. Brett has received a number of teaching accolades. He has presented his research at number of conferences, as well as publishing in refereed journals. Prior to commencing with Griffith University, Brett was a senior taxation consultant with KPMG and a solicitor with Corrs Chambers Westgarth. 

Findings from these reports were discussed in a lively industry presentation on 12 March 2009. A suite of tax reforms are being explored of benefit to creatives, arts organisations, major presenting and collecting institutions, collectors, philanthropists and benefactors.
The full series will be available by July 2009.
These reports also inform a national research partnership.
In 2009, Arts Queensland partnered with the Centre for Social Impact, University of New South Wales initiating a national research partnership responding to key action areas identified by the Creative Australia Stream at the 2020 Summit (April 2008).
Based on a robust analysis of existing models of arts support for individual artists, other regimes and their effectiveness internationally, this work will investigate new and improved financing and funding opportunities for arts in Australia.
Particularly, it will explore the feasibility of an Endowment of the Arts.
It will also examine the relevance of revolving loan scheme model for investment in arts productions which is an idea raised in the Queensland 2020 forum hosted by the Premier in May 2008.

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