Taking the initiative to benefit Indigenous arts

Partners have been chosen for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts initiatives, addressing Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights, employment in the arts and international promotion.

The chosen partners for 'Other side of the coin', 'Artists in work' and 'Showcasing the best' will be working with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board to keep culture strong.

Other initiatives underway focus on artform development, providing opportunities to develop Indigenous Australian music (see 'Music bound' and dance- 'Treading the pathways'). 

'The other side of the coin'

Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights are important and not that widely understood.
‘Other side of the coin’ is one way to help protect and promote Indigenous art and artists.

“A painting is the visual expression of the story of our ancestors and spirit-beings, and the right to depict a particular story has been handed down through the ages from the original Dreamtime people. Some time ago, I happened to see a tea towel with one of my paintings represented on it: this was one of the stories that my father had given to me, and no one else amongst my people would have painted it without my permission. I was deeply upset… It was then that I realised that I and my fellow Aboriginal artists needed some kind of protection.”

Wandjuk Marika, 1975.

A partnership between the Australia Council and the Arts Law Centre of Australia and the National Association for the Visual Arts is being negotiated to provide artists with the tools to protect their work, get a fair return from the market and provide regulation for the visual art sector.

‘Artists in work’ is an effort to respond to the growing demand for skilled Indigenous workers in the arts.  Working in the arts can be a rewarding career path for many Indigenous Australians. This initiative will help make it easier to earn a living while building communities, developing skills and protecting culture.  ‘Artists in work’ is establishing partnerships between the Australia Council and Gadigal Information Services (GIS), Aboriginal centre for the performing arts, Ausdance Northern Territory, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Contact Inc. The partnerships are incorporating a varitey of ways of tackling the issues, including mentoring, national touring, Indigenous recording labels, a dedicated Indigenous dance facility and cultural workshops for young people.

‘Showcasing the best’ responds to the growing global interest in Indigenous Australian arts.

From the strong Australian presence at Paris' Musee du Quai Branly, to promoting Indigenous culture at the Salisbury Festival and at the Salisbury Festival and throughout the United Kingdom the Australia Council has invested to present the whole story of Indigenous culture. Song, dance, music, language and visual arts are all important chapters in that story.

The partnerships with the Queensland Folk Federation who produce the Dreaming Festival, the National Gallery of Australia and the Melbourne Workers Theatre will help source new international opportunities, take Australia's national collection to North America and China and mentor a community theatre organisation to tour internationally.

Taking Indigenous Australian culture to a world stage develops markets, helps artists flourish and builds appreciation for the remarkable work being done by contemporary Indigenous artists.

These initiatives are some of a suite being undertaken by the Australia Council’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board to work productively in the arts and help keep Indigenous culture strong.

Media enquiries

Victoria Milner
Tel: 0410 322 431