Indigenous art code of conduct enters next phase

The Indigenous Australian Art Commercial Code of Conduct sets out minimum standards of practice and fair dealing in the Indigenous visual arts industry.

To produce this code the Australia Council worked closely with an  Industry Alliance Group  made up of artists, Indigenous art centres, commercial art galleries, public art galleries, auction houses and  visual arts peak bodies; including the Association of Northern, Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists (ANKAAA), Umi Arts, Ananguku Arts, Desart, Australian Commercial Galleries Association (ACGA), National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) and the Australian Indigenous Art Trade Association (AIATA).

In July 2009 the Industry Alliance Group approved this Code as an industry approved set of standards.

UPDATE: Registration is now open for art dealers, including agents, galleries and arts centres to register their interest in becoming signatories to the Indigenous Australian Art Commercial Code of Conduct.
For information click here.

The Code aims to contribute to the wellbeing of Indigenous Australians by providing a tool to regulate the conduct of dealers in the Indigenous art industry. This will ensure:

• fair and ethical trade with Indigenous artists;
• transparency with the promotion and sale of Indigenous artwork; and
• a fair and equitable dispute resolution system for disputes arising under the Code.

The Code is voluntary and will be implemented initially for a two year, self-regulatory period.
Anyone operating in the Indigenous Art Industry (such as dealers, agents, art galleries, auction houses and art centres, wholesalers and retailers of Indigenous art) may apply to the Code Administration Committee later this year to become a signatory to this Code.

The Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) are responsible for the development of the Code Administration Committee.  For information on the Code Administration Committee please contact:

Mr Peter Morrow
Acting  Manager
Indigenous Visual Arts
Department of Environment, water, heritage and the Arts (DEWHA)
Email: IndigenousArtCode@arts.gov.au

You can find out more about process of signing up to the code at www.indigenousartcode.org

Signing up to this Code is voluntary, but in making that commitment signatories agree to comply with all provisions of the Code.

• Read the Industry Alliance Group endorsed code here
• Read about the consultation period for the Code here
• Read about Registration here

The Australia Council would like to thank the Industry Alliance Group and everyone who participated in the consultation period for their invaluable contributions.