Consultation on draft Indigenous art code of conduct
18 December 2008
A draft commercial code of conduct for the Indigenous art industry is available for public comment.
The code of conduct is designed to strengthen fair and ethical trade in the Indigenous visual art industry. It specifies a set of minimum standards for dealers, agents and artists, and defines terms of trade, rights and responsibilities for the sale and management of artworks.
The implementation of a code of conduct was a key recommendation of the Senate Inquiry report into the Indigenous visual arts and craft sector, which revealed unscrupulous and illegal commercial practices towards Indigenous artists.
The Australia Council for the Arts and Department for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts have developed the draft code of conduct with industry input. It is consistent with Australian Competition and Consumer Commission guidelines for voluntary codes.
Formal submissions on the draft code were accepted up to 20 March 2009. Twenty responses were received which are published below.
A program of gathering more feedback from the sector has just been completed, including public forums held in major capital cities and regional centres across Australia. All interested artists, arts organisations, commercial dealers and galleries were welcome to attend.
Forums completed to date:
Alice Springs NT
Monday 20 to Tuesday 21 April 2009 (Mon 2-5pm, Tues 9am-1pm)
Madigans Function Room, Desert Park, Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs
Adelaide SA
Monday 27 April 2009, 10am-5pm
Nexus Multicultural Arts Centre, Corner Morphett Street and North Terrace, Adelaide
Perth WA
Tuesday 28 April 2009, 9am-3pm
Theatrette, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth Cultural Centre, James Street Mall, Perth
Broome WA
Wednesday 29 April 2009, 9am-5pm
Portlight Room, Mercure Inn Continental, Weld Street, Broome
Lismore NSW
Tuesday 12 May 2009, 11am-2pm
Venue - 3 Rivers Aboriginal Art Space, 125 Magellan Street Lismore
RSVP - Arts Northern Rivers (02)66288120 or info@artsnorthernrivers.com.au
Sydney NSW
Tuesday 19 May 2009,10am-5pm
Patrick White Room, Australia Council for the Arts, 372 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, Sydney
Canberra ACT
Wednesday 20 May 2009, 9am-3.30pm
Gorman House Arts Centre, Ainslie Avenue, Braddon, Canberra
Melbourne VIC
Thursday 21 May 2009, 9am-5pm
River Room, Hamer Hall, Victorian Arts Centre, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Hobart TAS
Friday 22 May 2009, 9.30am-3pm
Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery, 40 Macquarie Street, Hobart
Darwin NT
Monday 25 May 2009, 9.30 am-5pm
Museum and Art Gallery for the Northern Territory, Conacher Street, Fannie Bay, Darwin
Cairns QLD
Tuesday 26 May 2009, 10.30am-5.30pm
Trinity Esplanade Room, Rydges Tradewinds, The Esplanade, Cairns
Brisbane QLD
Thursday 28 May 2009, 9.30am-5pm
State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, Stanley Place, South Bank, Brisbane
Comments are welcome on any aspects of the draft code of conduct, including responses to the discussion paper below. Anyone concerned with fair and ethical trade in the Indigenous visual art industry is invited to take part in the consultations.
If you'd like to discuss the draft code of conduct, contact Lydia Miller, executive director Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, on 02 9215 9170 or toll free 1800 226 912.
Download the draft code of conduct
Download the discussion paper
Read the drafted fact sheets for artists and dealers
Read the drafted fact sheet on tax and non cash remuneration here
Make a comment on the online form or MS word template
Read the background paper
Read the submissions