Tim Pearn

Tim Pearn
Senior Project Officer
Aboriginal Economic Development - WA Department of Commerce

The Australian Indigenous Art Code of Conduct requires a significant and sustained advertising campaign to be effective. The purchasing clientele need to be informed that there is an ethical issue and that a Code of Conduct exists. When purchasing Aboriginal art the purchaser needs to ask the question of the gallery or agent, “Are they a signatory to the Code of Conduct?”

Without an advertising campaign increasing consumer awareness the art buyer will not be able to influence the marketplace activities which in turn will decrease non-ethical practices taking place in the artist/producer to purchaser pathway.

Without the education of the purchaser there will be no incentive for the agent or gallery to become a signatory to the Code of Conduct.

The only incentive driving the adherence of the agent or gallery to the Code is if market forces determine it is detrimental to their business performance.

Educating artists and the consumer is the strongest method of minimising unethical unconscionable conduct, maximising financial benefits to artists and ensuring sound ethical investment for the consumer.

A high investment sustained advertising campaign regarding the Code of Conduct targeted at the consumer will increase consumer awareness to effect positive change in the marketplace.

The Code of Conduct will require significant funding support and a dedicated secretariat to be effective beyond simply being an accreditation process with particular attention to a realistic compliance mechanism and enforcement regime.