Australia Council welcomes inquiry into Indigenous visual art sector

IFACCA/Artshub,
29 August 2006, Australia

The Australia Council for the Arts has launched a report on the country’s Indigenous arts industry. Indigenous cultural and intellectual property: the main issues for the Indigenous arts industry in 2006 identifies an ongoing exploitation of Indigenous artists’ works, a general failure to recognise communal moral rights, certain unethical practices among some galleries, and assorted copyright infringements. The report will form part of the Australia Council’s submission to a parliamentary inquiry (announced by the Federal Government in August), that will examine ways to strengthen the Indigenous visual arts and craft sector. Australia Council chairman James Strong AO has welcomed the inquiry. “Issues surrounding the value of Indigenous art to the well-being of Indigenous Australians and to our national culture have reached a critical point." “The Australia Council has already expressed its concern about strong evidence of appropriation of traditional imagery and design, and we will present this and other material to the inquiry.” For more information, CLICK HERE