The Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support (IVAIS) program supports a professional, viable and ethical Indigenous visual arts industry with strong participation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

A total of $3.9 million per annum is available through the IVAIS program Open Competitive Grant Opportunity in 2023-24 and 2024-25. The funding available is confirmed every subsequent year. Grant amounts for new activities would generally range from $5,000 to $80,000 per annum depending on the scale and type of activity.

The intended outcomes of the IVAIS program are:

• a professional, viable and ethical Indigenous visual arts industry that features strong participation and provides economic opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; and

• the continued production, exhibition, critique, purchase and collection of Indigenous visual art.

The IVAIS program is underpinned by Indigenous Art Centre Framework. The Indigenous Art Centre Framework outlines a cooperative structure for art centres, industry service organisations and the Australian Government to work together to build and maintain a professional, strong and ethical Indigenous visual arts industry, including encouraging strong participation and employment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The IVAIS program is part of the Australian Government’s Arts and Cultural Development Program that supports participation in, and access to, Australia’s arts and culture through developing and supporting cultural expression and contributes to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts’ (the department) Outcome 6.1 Arts and Cultural Development. Further information is available in the department’s 2023-27 Corporate Plan at: 2023–27 Corporate Plan.