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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{use Australian English|date=May 2020}}
{{about|the Australian Art Bank|the Canadian equivalent|Art Bank}}
'''Artbank''' is an Australian art rental program established in 1980 by the [[Australian Government]]. The program supports contemporary Australian [[Visual artists|artists]] by purchasing their [[Art|artworks]] and renting them to public and private sector clients. The initiative was inspired by Canada's [[Art Bank]], and was championed by then federal minister for the arts, [[Bob Ellicott]], who convinced Prime Minister [[Malcolm Fraser]] of its value. The collection was initially endowed with 600 artworks from the [[National Gallery of Australia]] and has since grown to include over 11,000 works by more than 3,500 culturally diverse Australian artists, spanning various media including painting, sculpture, video, photography, and ceramics. 

Artbank operates on self-generated income and has collection stores in [[Sydney]], [[Melbourne]], and [[Perth]], Australia. The program also offers a studio program to artists and designers at its Collingwood location.

==History==
Artbank was modelled on Canada's [[Art Bank]],<ref name=smh2008>{{cite web | last=Coslovich | first=Gabriella | title=Australia's creative talent smiling all the way to the (Art)bank | website=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=8 August 2008 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/australias-creative-talent-smiling-all-the-way-to-the-artbank-20080808-3sf4.html | access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref> after then federal minister for the arts, [[Bob Ellicott]], saw the [[Ottawa]] collection in 1979 and convinced Prime Minister [[Malcolm Fraser]] of the value of the idea. Fraser was enthusiastic, but treasurer [[John Howard]] took a little more convincing, before allotting {{AUD|250,000}} in [[seed funding]].<ref name=finrev2001>{{cite web | last=Koutsoukis | first=Jason | title=Artistic licence | website=Australian Financial Review | date=25 July 2001 | url=https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/arts-and-culture/artistic-licence-20010725-j72um | access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref> The collection was founded in 1980 with an [[Financial endowment|endowment]] of 600 artworks from the [[National Gallery of Australia]].<ref name=about>{{cite web | title=About Artbank | website=Artbank | url=http://artbank.gov.au/about/ | access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref>

By 1992 Artbank had become so profitable that its government funding was cut off and it operated on self-generated income.<ref name=finrev2001/> It was nearly shut down in 1997, under the [[Howard government]], but it was saved after much lobbying.<ref name=smh2008/> At the end of the 2000 [[Australian financial year]], its [[operating profit]] was recorded as {{AUD|700,000}} and its total assets {{AUD|13.7}} million.<ref name=finrev2001/> 

==Function and governance==
Artbank is part of the [[Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications]] (until January 2020, [[Department of Communications and the Arts (Australia)|Department of Communications and the Arts]], and various departments preceding that one).<ref name=about/>

The Director of Artbank ({{as of|lc=yes|2023|October}}) is [https://www.artbank.gov.au/news/artbank-staff-profile-zoe-rodriguez Zoe Rodriguez]

[https://www.artbank.gov.au/about-artbank Established in 1980 by the Australian Government, Artbank’s two core objectives are to provide direct support to Australian contemporary artists through the acquisition of their work and to promote the value of Australian contemporary art to the broader public.] 

[https://www.artbank.gov.au/about-artbank The Artbank collection was founded with an endowment of 600 artworks from the National Collection (now the National Gallery of Australia) and has since grown to include more than 11,000 works spanning media including painting, sculpture, video and photography. Through leasing works to individuals, companies and governments (at all levels), Artbank lives up to its policy principle of promoting broad access to Australian contemporary art.] 

==Description==
{{As of|2020}}, it has over 11,000 works<ref name=finrevnov2018>{{cite web | last=McIlroy | first=Tom | title=Artbank sells works Jeffrey Smart, Margaret Olley | website=Australian Financial Review | date=2 November 2018 | url=https://www.afr.com/politics/artbank-sells-works-jeffrey-smart-margaret-olley-20181102-h17epz | access-date=21 May 2020}}</ref> by more than 3,500 Australian culturally diverse artists,<ref name=move2018>{{cite web|url=https://thedesignfiles.net/2018/03/art-bank/|website=The Design Files|title=A New Home For Artbank|date=23 March 2018|access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref> including [[painting]]s, [[sculpture]], [[video art]], [[photograph]]s,<ref name=about/> and [[ceramic art|ceramics]].<ref name=finrev2001/> Prominent artists represented in the collection are [[Jeffrey Smart]], [[Julie Dowling (artist)|Julie Dowling]], [[John Olsen (Australian artist)|John Olsen]], [[Bill Henson]], [[Gwyn Hanssen-Pigott]], [[Robert Klippel]], [[Emily Kame Kngwarreye]],<ref name=finrev2001/> [[Bronwyn Oliver]], [[William Robinson (painter, born 1936)|William Robinson]], [[Kitty Kantilla]], [[Rover Thomas]], [[Patricia Piccinini]], [[Tracey Moffatt]] and [[Del Kathryn Barton]]. Because the artworks are chosen on cultural value and not in order to turn a profit, the institution is able to acquire some riskier pieces.<ref name=smh2008/> {{As of|2020}} it has the fastest growing collection of [[digital art|digital]]  and [[multimedia art]] in Australia.<ref>{{cite web  | title=Calling all unrepresented artists! | website=Institute of Modern Art | date=5 March 2020 | url=https://ima.org.au/news/calling-all-unrepresented-artists-artbank-roadshow-comes-to-the-ima/ | access-date=21 May 2020}}</ref>

Artbank has collection stores in [[Sydney]], [[Melbourne]] (opened 1996 in [[Armadale, Victoria|Armadale]];<ref name=smh2008/> moved to a converted warehouse<ref>{{cite web | last=Baumgart | first=Marcus | title=Judicious editing: Artbank | website=ArchitectureAU | date=4 March 2019 | url=https://architectureau.com/articles/artbank/ | access-date=21 May 2020}}</ref> in [[Collingwood, Victoria|Collingwood]] in 2018<ref name=move2018>{{cite web|url=https://thedesignfiles.net/2018/03/art-bank/|website=The Design Files|title=A New Home For Artbank|date=23 March 2018|access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref>) and [[Perth]], Australia.<ref name=locations>{{cite web | title=Contact| website=Artbank | url=http://artbank.gov.au/contact/ | access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref> The Collingwood location also offers a studio program to artists and designers, open to applications by residents.<ref name=move2018/>
===Leasing===
Artbank lends its artworks to corporations, government agencies, and private individuals.<ref name=move2018/> Restaurateur [[Kylie Kwong]] leased a number of artworks for her restaurant at [[Carriageworks]] arts centre in Sydney in 2018.<ref name=finrevmar2018>{{cite web | last=Safe | first=Georgina | title=Artbank: The affordable way to live with contemporary Australian art | website=Australian Financial Review | date=25 March 2018 | url=https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/arts-and-culture/artbank-the-affordable-way-to-live-with-contemporary-australian-art-20180306-h0x3a2 | access-date=21 May 2020}}</ref> Businesses are able to claim a 100% [[tax deduction]] for leasing from the institution. Works are sold from time to time, as part of [[stocktaking]] process.<ref name=finrevnov2018/> The cost of leasing an artwork ranges from {{AUD|165}} to {{AUD|5500}} per year, with lease periods lasting from six months to a year, with the ability to extend indefinitely.<ref name=finrevmar2018/>

==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Portal|Visual arts}}
*{{official|http://artbank.gov.au/}}

[[Category:Art museums and galleries in Australia]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Sydney]]
[[Category:Australian art]]