What is the COLLECT Art Purchase Scheme?
The COLLECT Art Purchase Scheme is an interest-free loan scheme that enables you to purchase artworks by contemporary Tasmanian artists from participating Tasmanian galleries.

Who can use it?
All Australian residents can apply to the COLLECT Art Purchase Scheme.

Note that it is restricted, however, to individuals. Businesses cannot use the COLLECT Art Purchase Scheme to purchase artworks. The Scheme is intended for the public to purchase artworks for their own private and personal enjoyment, not as a commercial undertaking or business activity.

Where can I buy artworks?
The COLLECT Art Purchase Scheme can only be accessed through participating galleries.

Click here to view the Participating Galleries page.

What artworks can I buy?
You can buy any two or three-dimensional artworks including paintings, drawings, sculpture, installations, glasswork, textiles, metalwork, woodwork, jewellery, furniture, ceramics, photographs, film and video, new media and limited edition prints. Any artwork by a Tasmanian living artist from a participating gallery that retails between $400 - $10,000 is eligible.

Note that this must be the first sale of the artwork – i.e. it must not have been previously owned or sold.

Can I buy prints?
Yes, you can use the COLLECT Art Purchase Scheme to buy limited edition prints where the print run is less than, or equal to, 150 prints.

You cannot use it to buy reproductions or posters.

Can I commission works?
Yes, you can use the COLLECT Art Purchase Scheme to commission artists. You can apply to borrow up to 75% of the price of any commissioned work (subject to maximum loan amounts – see below) which means that you must pay a 25% deposit.

How much can I borrow?
The minimum amount you can borrow is $750 and the maximum is $7,500.

This means that you can buy a number of lower-priced works retailing at $400 upwards, or with a deposit of $2,500 you can buy a single $10,000 work.

For a commissioned work the maximum you can borrow is $7,500.  This means that you could commission a $10,000 work, pay the 25% (or $2,500 deposit) and apply for a 75% (or $7,500) loan. The overall price of any commissioned work may not exceed the $10,000 limit set on eligible artworks funded through the COLLECT Art Purchase Scheme.

Can I use the gallery lay-by system in conjunction with a COLLECT Art Purchase Scheme loan?
No. You cannot use the gallery lay-by system to fund any outstanding balance for works priced over $7,500 or to cover any freight costs. These must be paid up front before the work is released to you.

What does it cost?
There are no application or administrative costs. The only cost is the retail price of the artwork plus any freight costs you may incur.

When do I have to repay the loan?
The term of the loan is one year. Repayments are to be made each month via direct debit in 12 instalments. There are no penalties for early pay out of the loan.

How do I apply?
All applications are submitted electronically, with a paper copy being posted to arts@work within 3 days of the electronic submission.

Click here to view full application terms and conditions on the How to Apply page.

How long does my application take to process?
Once received, it takes five days to process your application. If your application is approved you then have a further five days to sign and return your loan agreement. If the loan agreement is not received within this timeframe the gallery may release the artwork for sale. Once approved you may collect your work from the gallery provided you have paid any freight costs or outstanding balance due on the work.

What if I live interstate?
You can still apply for a loan under the COLLECT Art Purchase Scheme. We just need to make sure we can contact you within the specified timeframes to ensure that the Gallery does not release the work for sale. 

You may also need to pay freight costs in addition to the artwork cost if you are not able to collect your work directly from the gallery once the loan is approved.

You cannot include the cost of freight in your COLLECT Art Purchase Scheme loan amount.

Who provides the loan?
The loan is provided by arts@work, the industry development arm of Arts Tasmania, Department of Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts.

Our agents, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism administer the repayment of loans.

How many loans can I have at once?
You can have only one active loan at a time through the COLLECT Art Purchase Scheme although this one loan can cover a number of different artworks purchased at the same time from the gallery.