QBE is in negotiations with artists over proposed amendments to its policy terms for work undertaken at heights.

The insurer has provided discounted insurance for National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) members for over a decade. 

In August, NAVA was notified by Local Community Insurance Services (LCIS), which arranges its cover, that from next month QBE planned to impose new policy rules regarding heights, excluding some from eligibility for cover and increasing premiums for others.

QBE tells insuranceNEWS.com.au as part of this year’s renewal it is negotiating some proposed amendments to the policy terms with NAVA, but it has not changed the level of cover provided to the visual arts and recreation community.

“We acknowledge some of the proposed amendments have created confusion, which we are actively working through with NAVA and their broker. No change will be implemented until the negotiations are completed with NAVA’s agreement,” QBE said.

“Our ongoing support for the visual arts community is an important privilege for our business, and through a combination of risk management support, insurance protection and risk-based pricing, we continue to sustainably support our customers and the communities they work in.”

NAVA says planned changes to its Premium Plus insurance policy included that artists working at heights greater than 5 metres would no longer be eligible for the insurance package, while heights of 2-5 metres would incur an additional annual premium of more than $600.

Artists working at heights less than 2 metres will be charged an additional premium of almost $100. 

NAVA GM and Executive Director Penelope Benton tells insuranceNEWS.com.au a “critical meeting” was held by artists with QBE on Thursday to challenge the planned policy changes, which the association says would have seen Australians abandon the sector because it “won't be feasible for them to pursue a career”. 

“The changes would have made premiums out of reach for many artists and arts workers and excluded others from eligibility entirely. For the last few weeks, NAVA has been advocating to negotiate the changes to a workable solution for the thousands of artists and arts workers we represent.” 

Artist members are grateful for the discounted insurance NAVA is able to offer through a group policy with QBE, brokered by LCIS, she says.

“NAVA deeply values QBE’s contribution to the careers of Australian visual arts, craft and design practitioners over the last decade through this insurance package. We look forward to written confirmation of proposed amendments (to the planned height term changes) following our negotiations with the insurer.”

Ms Benton is hopeful that changes for artists working at heights will now be “much more reasonable and affordable” for NAVA members, who have expressed concern over being “completely priced out of insurance”. 

“We are hopeful that we can resolve a more workable solution with QBE which will allow us to continue supporting the establishment and growth of artists' practices and careers across Australia,” she said.

“There is a real fear that mural work in particular will be abandoned by many artists and the commissions will be left to those in a privileged financial position to afford the increased premiums.

“The 5-metre ‘no-coverage’ restriction will make it impossible to work at those heights, there are no accessible alternatives for artists.” 

The QBE package includes five types of “heavily discounted” insurance coverage and is exclusively available for professional visual artists, craftspeople, designers, curators, installers, registrars, conservators and arts administrators. NAVA currently has almost 3000 artists relying on the insurance, and she says thousands more at other organisations have also benefitted.

The QBE Premium Plus Membership cover, which costs $316 a year, includes cover for Personal Accident up to $1000 a week, Public Liability and Products Liability of $20 million, Professional Indemnity of $5 million, Property in Custody or Control of $250,000 and Tenants Liability of $10 million.

In May, practitioners who use a kiln were required to pay an additional $94, and those using an open flame an extra $119.

NAVA says many emerging artists and curators install their own work, and the changes also impact galleries and government programs.

It is understood QBE offers some cover options for artists working at heights of up to 15 meters.

According to the government’s Safe Work Australia website, there were 499 work-related falls from height resulting in fatality between 2003 in 2021, the third highest cause.