The Australian Associated Press is an integral part of the Australian media landscape, providing independent journalism via the national newswire to hundreds of domestic and international newspapers, digital news sites, radio and television news outlets. In 2020, the Australian Associated Press was restructured as a not-for-profit charity and it is now entirely independent, focusing on informing, educating and empowering all Australians with factual, fair and unbiased reporting.
Arts Journalism and coverage of arts issues is declining across Australia placing in jeopardy an industry that underscores and enriches our daily lives, from visual art exhibitions and live performances of dance, music, opera and drama to books, film, television and podcasts. Journalistic coverage of the arts is crucial for fostering a vibrant cultural landscape. The Balnaves Foundation is supporting the Australian Associated Press (AAP) to deliver a specialised Arts Desk led by dedicated arts reporter Liz Hobday.
As a newswire, articles published by the AAP are shared with over 300 Australian media outlets, ensuring widespread coverage and that art and cultural issues remain on the national agenda. In 2024-2025, each of the AAP’s Arts Desk publications were republished by between 70-90 Australian mastheads including The Sydney Morning Herald, Guardian Australia and dozens of small regional news outlets.
Hamish Balnaves, CEO of The Balnaves Foundation, said:
“It has been disappointing to see the significant reduction in arts journalists by many Australian mastheads in recent years. The arts are often maligned as elitist and inaccessible, yet they are a vital part of our culture and everyday life. The Balnaves Foundation’s support for the arts desk at the Australian Associated Press will help ensure reporting across all aspects of the arts are available to the Australian public, across a wide and diverse range of local, state and national media.”
AAP CEO Lisa Davies said she was delighted The Balnaves Foundation had put its considerable reputation for arts philanthropy behind the newswire’s arts coverage. “Australians connect through arts and culture, its core to our national identity – whether it’s watching a newly-released drama on a streaming platform, putting an album on in the car, going to an exhibition or the opera, watching a star-studded musical or a community play – we can’t get enough,” she said. “We are committed to dedicating reporting and photographic resources to cover the arts, ensuring AAP’s vast national network can keep their audiences well informed and entertained.”
This three-year grant allows the AAP’s specialised Arts Desk to deliver insightful and comprehensive coverage, ensuring that the arts remain at the forefront of public discourse.