Fees & policies

Fees

Words For Art’s fees follow the payment standards in the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) Code of Practice, and are set to reflect more than thirty years of specialist curatorial, research and writing practice. All fees are exclusive of GST (where applicable). Travel, accommodation and other out-of-pocket expenses are charged at cost.

Writing

Catalogue essays, monographs, criticism and auction essays are charged at $1.20 per word, with a minimum fee of $1,200. Major publications and projects involving substantial original research, archival work or interviews are quoted separately.

Consultancy

Collection strategy, collection management, advice on the Cultural Gifts Program, and risk and governance advice are charged at $280 per hour or $2,000 per day. Longer engagements can be quoted as a fixed project fee.

Curatorial

Exhibitions, biennales and curatorial projects are quoted on a case-by-case basis, according to the duration, location and complexity of the project. Each quote sets out the estimated hours and costs involved. We are happy to discuss a project in advance, including funding possibilities and options.

Speaking and education

Keynote lectures start from $1,700, and in-conversation and panel appearances from $500. Where a recording is made publicly available, an additional 20% applies. Archive tours, mentoring sessions and workshops are charged at $210 per hour, including preparation time.

Artist-run and small organisations

Reduced rates are available for artist-run initiatives, community organisations and small-scale projects. Please get in touch to discuss.

Site access

Your use of the websites wordsforart.com.au and wordsforart.com (hereafter referred to as the ‘Site’) is subject to the following terms and conditions. By accessing or browsing from this Site you accept these terms and conditions.

Copyright

Copyright for all material presented on this site is held by Damian Smith unless otherwise indicated. Text may be freely quoted for bona-fide research or educational purposes but may not be used for any commercial purposes without the express permission of the author.

For copyright clearance requests and requests for high resolution images and text, please refer to the Contact page.

All content on this site is subject to copyright and other intellectual and cultural property rights owned by, or licensed to, Damian Smith, or other external publishers of content to the Site.

Content on this Site may include content in the form of software, pdf documents, text, graphics, flash artwork, still images, audio and video.

In using the Site’s content you:

• may (appropriate/reproduce/use) the content only for cultural or educational purposes. If you do, you must retain copyright and other intellectual and cultural property notices from the original material;
• must not use or distribute content from this Site for any public or commercial purpose; and
• must not breach copyright or any other intellectual or cultural property rights of Damian Smith or Words For Art, or its licensors, including by amending or adapting any content on this site.

Nothing you do on or in relation to this Site will transfer any copyright or other intellectual or cultural property rights to you, nor licence you to exercise any copyright, intellectual or cultural property rights, unless express permission is given by Damian Smith.

Editorial policy

Words For Art develops critical and curatorial texts and projects pertinent to the arena of contemporary art and culture. While we welcome applications and enquiries, our primary focus is on advancing artistic discourse and knowledge. Prior to accepting commissions, applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

In using this Site you:

• acknowledge that Words For Art is the controlling editor of the text content on this site. Those publishing or editing text content on this site may only do so with the express permission of Words For Art;
• acknowledge that Words For Art may remove or archive content as required; and
• acknowledge that Words For Art reserves the right to change procedures under this Policy at any time, at Words For Art sole discretion, with or without notice.

Environmental policy

Throughout our projects, whether with art museums, commercial galleries, private clients or publishing and print entities we recognise the importance of maintaining sustainable business practices and the necessity of minimising the carbon footprint of our work. To this end Words For Art implements and endorses best practice standards established by peak bodies and environmental leaders across our partner industries.