Can visual artists do the NEIS scheme? Should I do it? How do artists get in?
Visual artists can (and do) do the NEIS scheme. Doing NEIS as an artist has some definate pros and cons. Some pros are that you can keep your income as well as payments and aren’t bothered for a year. Some cons are that some people find the weeks of training a real chore if their art is going well already. Keep in mind there are other systems to keep your money, the MOD F system (explained in the next section). The MOD F system may make you ineligible for NEIS (but there are ways around that, too).
An artist in Sydney told us: “I am currently on the NEIS scheme. I highly recommend it to any artist. Even just doing the six week business course is worthwhile, If its a good one and they’re not all good, you can learn a lot about tax, how to treat yourself as a business, etc. I have opened a gallery in Sydney as part of the scheme but the original idea was making lampshades - they like that crafty stuff. Once your approved just change your mind, hey - they do that in business. Good luck all.”
Anyone know if it helps if you have a related degree from one of the art colleges for NEIS? Or if art schools qualifications are a negative?
“Just a note on having to be unemployed for 12 months to qualify for NEIS - that is no longer the case. you can now be one day unemployed and be eligible for NEIS. i’ve just finished the training component of NEIS (I’m about five months unemployed) and it’s been really good.”
Lola
COMMENTS / ONE COMMENT
Rebecca added these wise words on Feb 15 10 at 2:36 amI have a great job search provider who, when I told her I was an artist, told me straight up that I should go into the NEIS scheme. Unfortunately I went in on Friday for an information session and apparently (at least in Brisbane) the funding has been dramatically cut and there are no places going to be open until the next financial year– even then she said there are four times more people wanting to do it than there are places. So it seems like we’re now going to be looking at an incredibly long wait list, and even then have a slim chance of getting in. It’s such a shame because this scheme seemed like a perfect solution for emerging artists who are trying to establish a career.
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