Established in 1986, The Artists' Foundation of WA is one of the longest running art membership organisations in the State, and a mature and important asset to the cultural infrastructure in Western Australia. Our accumulated resources including networks partners and supporters, wealth of collective knowledge and the experience of our leadership and members, position us uniquely, to lead in supporting the visual arts sector, to survive and thrive into the future.
Artsource: The Artist’s Agency of WA, has been supporting artist members and other arts practitioners where appropriate, to assist them to improve their public profile, creative development, and income earning capacity since 1992. Artsource also seeks to influence, inspire and empower artists to act as free agents by setting plans, goals, developing strategies, self-regulating, reflecting and making adjustments, to realise them. Artsource provides three pillars of support for artists, members and the community, and these are: Services, Education, and Social Enterprise.
Our Agency Services for artists and members include affordable studios, exhibition venue hire, support for funding applications, contractual matters or negotiations and much more. Artsource provides opportunities for artists to promote their image, through the online artist gallery, and other recognition opportunities. We provide professional resources for artists through our member resource and reading room and access to technology and infrastructure. We provide Advocacy for artists through letters, meetings and campaigns on matters of collective importance.
Our Education programs include professional development focusing on issues of collective importance to artists. We seek to influence positive social change through our direct actions, by influencing others who have the capability to secure outcomes for artists, and by building strategic relationships and partnerships, to shape a positive future for artists and our community. Our advocacy work includes education as advocacy in the community, business, industry and future generations through schools. Striving for constructive influence and positive change.
At Artsource, Social Enterprise involves developing economically viable business activities that support the sustainability of the organisation, so that it can continue to tackle the social and economic problems faced by artists. Services such as providing artist studios at affordable rates, exchange studios supporting artists from regional and remote locations, and studios supporting young and emerging artists, are supported by these activities.