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OzCo report finds networking most common overseas activity for writers, publishers

A new Australia Council for the Arts report has found that network development is the most common overseas activity for Australian writers and publishers, while access to funding is the biggest concern for those looking to travel overseas.

The International Arts Activity Survey report is based on responses taken from 439 independent artists and arts organisations in February and March this year, including 10% who identified as literature practitioners.

Seventy percent of literature respondents said their overseas activity included developing networks, such as meeting agents and managers, ahead of touring, exhibiting, presenting or international publication (54%); undertaking collaborations or reciprocal programs (51%); and cultural learning or exchange (49%).

Out of all art forms surveyed, contemporary music (60%) and literature (40%) respondents were the most likely to make international sales of rights or work while still in Australia.

The US (14%) was the most popular destination for literature respondents to travel for overseas activity, followed by the UK (13%), Germany (eight percent), India (seven percent) and Indonesia (six percent). Western Europe (31%), North America (17%) and South-East Asia (16%) were the most common regions of activity. Eleven percent of respondents want to increase their activity in North Asia, up from 7% last year, while most other regions stayed fairly stable.

Literature respondents were more likely to prioritise access to information about overseas opportunities (51%) compared to all respondents (34%). However, like all other art forms, funding (84%) was the biggest concern for their pursuit of overseas activities. The biggest challenge to international literature activity was the lack of support to develop relationships (50%), ahead of a limited knowledge of international market opportunities, non-strategic support and inadequate support for translation and other preparatory activities (each at 28%).

Audience development was the most important reason for literature respondents to undertake international activity, at 53%, ahead of ‘being part of the global landscape’ (50%) and the development of artistic practice (39%).

 

Category: Local news