Indigenous Art Code Ltd (IartC) administers a voluntary industry Code of Conduct, the Indigenous Art Code (the Code). The Code is a set of rules and guidelines that Code Signatories (both Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses) commit to follow to ensure ethical practices and fair and transparent dealings with artists.

The purpose of the Code is to establish standards for dealings between Code Signatories and Artists to ensure:

1. Fair and ethical trade in Artwork;
2. Transparency in the process of promotion and sale of Artwork; and
3. That disputes arising under the Code are dealt with efficiently and fairly.

Indigenous Art Code Ltd (IartC) is the public company that was established in 2010 to administer the Code. The purpose of IartC is to promote the fair and ethical trade between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and the businesses that sell and/or license their artwork by:

1. Promoting the adoption of the Indigenous Art Code
2. Encouraging code signatories to become Code Signatories to, and comply with the Code
3. Advocating for improved standards, policies and practices to sustain the ethical trade of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks
4. In other ways, supporting the growth of a fair, healthy and respectful market for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.
   

Read more about the Code on our website.

See also:

What is the Code vs IartC?

In 2007, a Senate Inquiry into Australia’s Indigenous visual arts industry recommended the establishment of a voluntary industry code of conduct (the Indigenous Art Code, known as the Code) to guide ethical commerce in the sector.

Based on these recommendations and after a period of public consultation the Code was launched in August 2009 with the Indigenous Art Code Limited (IartC) established in 2010 to administer the Code.

The purpose of the Code is to establish standards for dealings between Code Signatories and Artists to ensure:

1. fair and ethical trade in Artwork;
2. transparency in the process of promotion and sale of Artwork; and
3. that disputes arising under the Code are dealt with efficiently and fairly.

The purpose of IartC (the public company that administers the Code) is to promote the fair and ethical trade between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Artists and art code signatories by:

1. Promoting the adoption of the Indigenous Art Code;
2. Encouraging code signatories to become Code Signatories, and comply with the Code;
3. Advocating for improved standards, policies and practices to sustain the ethical trade of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks;
4. In other ways, supporting the growth of a fair, healthy and respectful market for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.

Almost 15 years on from the Senate Inquiry the IartC finds that most code signatories in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art have high ethical standards and a genuine sense of responsibility to Indigenous artists and their communities. Many are members of the Indigenous Art Code and display our logo on their premises and on marketing materials. We encourage all buyers to look for it whenever and wherever they buy Indigenous art.

Regrettably, there are some individuals and businesses selling Aboriginal art (and fake Aboriginal art) who do not respect Indigenous culture or the wellbeing of the artists and their communities.

IartC provides clear advice and information to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists on commercial arrangements they might enter in relation to their artwork. We work to educate and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to understand their rights and refer them to appropriate organisations as required.

A brief history of the Code and IartC

You can search for Artist, Code Signatories, and Code Supporter Members of the Indigenous Art Code via our member register on the IartC website.

Many Code Signatories and Artist Members of Indigenous Art Code display our logo at their premises and on marketing materials. We encourage all buyers to look for it whenever and wherever they buy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.

Search IartC Members

The Code is a voluntary industry Code of Conduct launched in 2009, following a 2007 Senate Inquiry into the Indigenous Visual Arts industry.

The purpose of the Code is to establish standards for dealings between Code Signatories and artists to ensure:

1. fair and ethical trade in Artwork;
2. transparency in the process of promotion and sale of Artwork; and
3. that disputes arising under the Code are dealt with efficiently and fairly. 

Indigenous Art Code Ltd (IartC) is the public company that was established in 2010 to administer The Code.

The purpose of IartC is to promote the fair and ethical trade between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Artists and art code signatories by:

1. Promoting the adoption of the Indigenous Art Code
2. Encouraging code signatories to become signatories to, and comply with the Code
3. Advocating for improved standards, policies and practices to sustain the ethical trade of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks;
4. In other ways, supporting the growth of a fair, healthy and respectful market for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. 

Read more about us.

A voluntary industry code of conduct is a ‘non-prescribed’ code meaning it is not mandatory or prescribed under law. The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) defines these kinds of Codes as follows:

Non-prescribed voluntary industry codes of conduct set out specific standards of conduct for an industry including how to deal with its members and customers. These codes only apply to those who sign up to them. The ACCC may be able to assist your industry in developing a voluntary code by providing general guidance. We do not have a role in drafting voluntary codes.

Learn about voluntary codes of conduct here.

There are several ways you can support Indigenous Art Code:

1.        Become a Code Supporter Member

Code Supporter Members are individuals or businesses who are not trading in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art but are supportive of the objects of the Code. They add their voice to the call for fair and ethical trade with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and transparency in the promotion and sale of artwork.

Apply for Code Supporter Membership

2.        Make a tax-deductible donation

Indigenous Art Code Ltd is a registered charity with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Status. Please contact us to make a donation.

3.        Purchase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art from our Members

Search our members to find Artist and Code Signatory Members near you.

IartC is a limited liability public company governed by a Board of Directors. Members of the Board are drawn from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts industry and the wider community nationwide. The Board is independent of government and administered under the Australian Corporations Act 2001.

The IartC Constitution allows for the following Board composition:

• up to 4 Code Signatory Member representatives that are elected by IartC Members;
• up to 3 Indigenous artists who are appointed by the Board;
• up to 2 artists’ resource organisation representatives who are appointed by the Board;
• up to 8 representatives with legal, arts, business or consumer knowledge and experience who are appointed by the Board.

View profiles of the Indigenous Art Code board here.

The current IartC CEO is located in Sydney with a small team of staff currently based across four states. We support artists and members across all states and territories.

Indigenous Art Code Ltd is a small organisation with a national remit. The CEO is located in Sydney with staff and Board representation from across Australia. We support artists and members across all states and territories.

A Code Signatory (formerly Code Signatory) is a membership status sought by Indigenous and non-Indigenous owned businesses currently trading in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Art centres, private art code signatories, galleries, retail outlets and businesses that are either selling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork or licensing artwork on products and merchandise are all eligible.

Code Signatories are members of Indigenous Art Code Ltd (IartC, the Company) who are signatories to the Indigenous Art Code of Conduct (the Code). To be approved for membership, they have demonstrated that their business complies with the standards outlined in the Code and commit to fair, transparent and ethical trade with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and their art.

Code Signatories must at all times act fairly, honestly, professionally and transparently when engaging or communicating with artists and their artwork.

Read the Code

Becoming Code Signatory:

Supports a fair go for artists

• Demonstrating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists that you are committed to respecting and valuing their art and culture. 
• Ensuring your business practices adhere to the Code requirements means artists are treated respectfully, fairly and transparently in all commercial arrangements they enter with you. 

Gives confidence to consumers

• Demonstrating to consumers that you are committed to fair and ethical trade. 

Develops and strengthens the market

• Contributing to the continued growth of a fair and sustainable market for Indigenous visual art and artists. 

Offers promotion and brand affiliation for your business

• Promote your Code Signatory Membership through your website and at your physical place of business using a window decal and point of sale stand provided by the IartC, and other promotional material in line with the IartC Style Guide. 
• Your business name is added to the IartC register of members and your business profile is featured on the IartC website where art buyers search for businesses who have demonstrated a commitment to working with artists in a fair, ethical and transparent manner.

Fair business is good business. Apply to become a Code Signatory.

Code Signatories are individuals or organisations that satisfy the definition of a Potential Code Signatory who have applied for membership of the Company by submitting an Application (which includes agreeing to become a signatory to the Code) and whose Applications have been approved by the Directors.

Potential Code Signatory means:

(a) an Agent; or

(b) a person or organisation who is not an Agent but who acquires Artwork, or who carries on business involving the acquisition of Artwork, for re-supply by means of sale, licensing or other distribution which may include but is not limited to a wholesaler, retailer, art gallery, auction house or art centre.

Indigenous and non-Indigenous owned businesses and organisations are eligible, including art centres, private art code signatories, galleries, retail outlets and businesses selling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork or licensing artwork for reproduction on products and merchandise.

For more information see:

IartC Constitution

IartC Membership Policy

Apply for Code Signatory Membership

Businesses or individuals not currently trading in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art are not eligible for Code Signatory membership of Indigenous Art Code. This includes start-up businesses not yet trading or businesses yet to start selling or licensing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.

Please wait until your business is trading in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art before applying.

If you are a business or individual who works with or supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists or communities but isn’t engaged in commercial trade, you may be eligible for Code Supporter Membership. Read about the different membership types here.

Code Signatories need to treat and pay artists fairly. Any business who is currently engaging in any of the following conduct does not meet the requirements of a Code Signatory (as stated in the Code 2.1):

(a) engaging in unfair or unreasonable conduct, including any penalty or unfavourable treatment where the Artist exercises their right to seek legal or other independent advice;

(b) applying undue pressure or influence or unfair tactics, including threats, harassment or coercive control;

(c) not acting in good faith;

(d) paying an Artist by means of alcohol or drugs;

(e) unfairly taking advantage of, or exploiting, an Artist;

(f) paying or agreeing to pay an Artist an amount or other consideration for the Artist's Artwork that is, in all the circumstances, against good conscience;

(g) if the Code Signatory intends to resell the Artwork and the potential resale value is significantly higher than the amount that the Code Signatory is paying or has agreed to pay to the Artist, not informing the Artist of the potential resale value; and

h) dealing, contracting or otherwise engaging with a person or organisation in respect of Artwork where the Code Signatory has not taken reasonable steps to identify or assess whether the person or organisation meets the standards of the Code.

For more information see:

Constitution of Indigenous Art Code Ltd.

Indigenous Art Code (the Code)

Yes. Indigenous and non-Indigenous owned organisations and businesses are eligible for Code Signatory Membership with Indigenous Art Code. This includes individual non-Indigenous art code signatories, galleries, retail outlets and businesses selling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork or licensing artwork for reproduction on products and merchandise.

The Indigenous Art Code (the Code) is about supporting a fair go for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Artists. The Code is a voluntary industry code of conduct administered by the Indigenous Art Code Ltd (IartC).

Code Signatories must adhere to the Code to ensure they are using fair, ethical and transparent practices when engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Artists. The Code provides clear standards for commercial dealings with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Artists to deliver:

a)        fair and ethical trade in Artwork;

b)        transparency in the process of promotion and sale of Artwork; and

c)        that disputes arising under the Code are dealt with efficiently and fairly.

As part of the transparent promotion and sale of Artwork, Code Signatories are expected to be transparent and open about their business and ownership structures, including whether they are Indigenous-owned.

Indigenous-owned businesses are identified as such on the IartC website.

Search IartC Members

Code Signatory and Code Supporter Members renew their membership annually and pay an annual membership fee. If you have not paid a membership fee for this calendar year or provided updated information about your business as requested, then your membership will have lapsed and you will need to reapply.

Artist Membership is free and is only cancelled if the artist contacts us directly to request a cancellation, or if the artist has not provided updated information to meet member eligibility requirements.

Current members can be searched via the member register on the IartC website.

If you are not a current member but would like to become one, please apply for Membership of the Indigenous Art Code here.

Indigenous Art Code does not comment on the business practices of non-members. We recognise that businesses may be operating fairly and ethically without being Code Signatories.

We do encourage all businesses trading in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art to become Code Signatories as membership:

Supports a fair go for artists

• Demonstrating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists that you are committed to respecting and valuing their art and culture.
• Ensuring your business practices adhere to the Code requirements means artists are treated respectfully, fairly and transparently in all commercial arrangements they enter with you.

Gives confidence to consumers

• Demonstrating to consumers that you are committed to fair and ethical trade.

Develops and strengthens the market

• Contributing to the continued growth of a fair and sustainable market for Indigenous visual art.

Offers promotion and brand affiliation for your business

• Allowing you to promote your Code Signatory Membership through your website and at your physical place of business using a window decal and point of sale stand provided by the IartC, and other promotional material in line with the IartC Style Guide.
• Adding your business name to the IartC register of members and a business profile is featured on the IartC website.

Apply for IartC Membership

To complete a Code Signatory application you will be required to:

• Supply information about your business structure, entity name, trading name/s and ABN
• Supply a list of directors and related entities
• Supply contact details and details of any social media pages or online trading sites
• Supply a list of all suppliers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and products, including artists or other businesses that you’ve dealt with in the last three years
• Disclose whether your business has ever been under any external evaluation or scrutiny.

In addition to providing the above information, the application will ask questions that seek to assess whether your business is adhering to the following requirements of the Code by:

• Acting fairly, honestly, professionally and transparently (Code section 2.1)
• Not engaging in misleading or deceptive conduct (Code section 2.2)
• Respecting Indigenous Cultural Practices and Artist’s Rights (Code section 3), including to:
• - respecting the Artist’s Moral Rights, Copyright and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Artwork
• - correctly attributing the Artist name and Artwork title whenever an image of an Artwork is reproduced or used for promotion
• - obtaining consent of the artists before reproducing the Artworks (or permitting a third party to reproduce the Artwork) in any form
• - not marketing, promoting, displaying or selling Artwork or material (such as Tjuringas or human remains) which a reasonable person would know contains content that the relevant Indigenous community and/or Traditional Owners consider to be secret/sacred and/or restricted.
• - not consign, market, promote, display, license, sell, distribute, purchase or otherwise deal with artwork or material that is intended to look like Artwork by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Artist but is not actually created or produced by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Artist
• Taking care of Artwork (Code section 2.3)
• Creating Code Certificates (Code section 6).
• Using best endeavours to resolve complaints (Code section 8)
• Providing a clear explanation of the Agreement (Code section 4.1)
• Ensuring there is a written or verbal Agreement between the Code Signatory and an Artist in relation to Artwork that covers the key terms outlined in the Code (Code section 4.2)
• Respecting an Artist’s cooling off rights to terminate an Agreement (Code section 4.5)
• Providing details of payment for the Artwork (Code section 4.6)
• Keeping records of all dealings with Artists and making this available to Artists upon request (Code section 5).

Applications are assessed via the following process:

1. Application
2. IartC review
3. Preliminary eligibility check
4. Detailed membership assessment, which may include requests for further information from the applicant
5. Board decision
6. Notification

Further detail on the process is provided here.

Indigenous Art Code receives a high volume of applications. Applications that are incomplete or are missing necessary information cannot be assessed and will further delay the processing of the application. It is commonplace to receive feedback from IartC on your application responses with requests to clarify or further demonstrate your compliance with the Code. The assessment timeframe depends on how promptly the applicant responds to these requests.

Therefore, it can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks on average for a Code Signatory application to be assessed.

To enquire about the status of your application contact: membership@indigenousartcode.org

Indigenous Art Code Ltd is a member-based corporation. There are three categories of membership with Indigenous Art Code: Artist, Code Signatory and Code Supporter.

Artist Members of Indigenous Art Code are practising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual artists who want to add their voice to the call for fair and ethical treatment of artists within the Indigenous visual arts industry.

The Indigenous Art Code Ltd (IartC) administers a voluntary industry Code of Conduct, known as the Code. The Code is a set of rules and guidelines that Code Signatories (which can be Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses) commit to follow to ensure ethical practices and fair treatment of artists.

Artist Members are not signatories to the Code. This means their membership is not based on compliance with the Code of Conduct. Instead, their membership is concerned with promoting and supporting the fair treatment of artists within the industry, as outlined in the standards of the Code.

• Members are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practising visual artists who are selling artwork only of their own creation; 
• Being an Artist Member is about artists adding their voice to the call for fair and ethical treatment within the Indigenous visual arts industry;  
• Members can be involved in the Company (the Indigenous Art Code Ltd or IartC), including by voting at meetings; 
• If you are an artist who does not currently have your own website, your Artist Membership profile can be a useful way to share and promote yourself as an artist; 
• Artists Members are kept up to date with our news and activities and we share resources and opportunities with them; 
• Artist Membership is free. 

You can apply for Artist Membership here.

As a practicing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual artist, you should apply for Artist Membership of the Indigenous Art Code if you wish to add your voice to the call for the fair and ethical treatment of artists within the Indigenous visual arts industry.

In the words of Stephanie Parkin, the Chair of the Indigenous Art Code:

The Indigenous Art Code is about a fair go for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. All artists have a voice, and as an Artist Member of the Indigenous Art Code you are playing an important role in advocating for fairness for yourself and others. 

The Indigenous Art Code Ltd (IartC) administers a voluntary industry Code of Conduct, known as the Code. The Code is a set of rules and guidelines that Code Signatories (both Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses) commit to follow to ensure ethical practices and fair treatment of artists.

Artist Members are not signatories to The Code. This means their membership is not based on compliance with the Code of Conduct. Instead, their membership is concerned with promoting and supporting the fair treatment of artists within the industry, as outlined in the standards of the Code.

The benefits of Artist Membership include:

• Members can be involved in the Company (the Indigenous Art Code Ltd or IartC), including by voting at meetings; 
• If you are an artist who does not currently have your own website, your Artist Membership profile can be a useful way to share and promote yourself as an artist; 
• As an Artist Member we will keep you up to date with our news and activities and share resources and opportunities with you; 
• Artist Membership is free. 

You can apply for Artist Membership here.

Artist Membership is not a label or certification of authenticity. Artist Membership of the Indigenous Art Code is about practicing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual artists adding their voice to the call for fair and ethical treatment of artists within the Indigenous visual arts industry.

The Artist Membership application assessment does not evaluate or provide endorsement or accreditation.

Assessment of an application for Artist Membership is based only on whether the applicant is:

• An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person;
• A practising visual artist;
• Only selling their own artwork.

Artist Members are not signatories to the Code, meaning their membership is not based on compliance with the Code. Only Code Signatories commit to abide by the ethical standards set out in the Code, and therefore, only Code Signatory applications are assessed based on whether their businesses, practices, and behaviour comply with the Code.

In the words of Stephanie Parkin, the Chair of the Indigenous Art Code:

The Indigenous Art Code is about a fair go for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. All artists have a voice, and as an Artist Member of the Indigenous Art Code, you are playing an important role in advocating for fairness for yourself and others.

To be eligible for Artist Membership you must:

• Be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, defined as a person who: 
• Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, and 
• Is recognised as such by members of the community with which the person identifies. 
• Be an Artist and produce Artwork including but not limited to paintings, drawings, artists’ books, woodwork, ceramics, glass, jewellery, sculpture, fibre works, printmaking, photography, installation, video or multimedia works. 
• Be over the age of 18 years. 
  

You don’t necessarily need to be selling your artwork to become an Artist Member (you can be creating artwork for your own enjoyment or to gift to others). If you are selling artwork you can’t be selling other artist’s work.

You can apply for Artist Membership here.

·      Artists that do not identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander;

·      An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person who is not creating their own visual art;

·      An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist who is under 18 years of age.

If you are an artist who is selling artwork by other artists, including family members, you will need to apply for Code Signatory Membership.

Learn more about Code Signatory Membership here. Once this is approved you may then continue to apply for Artist Membership, if the other eligibility criteria are met.

You don’t need to be a member for us to help you. Indigenous Art Code will provide assistance and information to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists irrespective of their membership status.

Please contact us via 0438637862 or send us an email if you need assistance or support.

Indigenous Art Code does not provide legal advice. For legal advice, all artists will be referred to The Arts Law Centre of Australia.

No. Indigenous Art Code does not provide legal advice.

For legal advice all artists will be referred to the Arts Law Centre of Australia for low-cost or free legal advice. Indigenous Art Code can assist artists by providing a referral to Arts Law, or artists can contact Arts Law directly:

Arts Law Centre of Australia
P: 1800 221 457 (toll-free)
E: artslaw@artslaw.com.au
W: www.artslaw.com.au

Arts Law can review contracts and other documentation for artists to explain them clearly. This service is free for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

No, it is not.

The word code in the name ‘Indigenous Art Code’ refers to the voluntary industry Code of Conduct, known as the Code, administered by Indigenous Art Code Ltd (IartC). The Code is a set of rules and guidelines that Code Signatories (both Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses) commit to follow to ensure ethical practices and fair treatment of artists.

The Indigenous Art Code is not a label or mark of authenticity. Artist Membership of Indigenous Art Code is about adding your voice to the call for fair and ethical treatment of artists within the Indigenous visual arts industry.

The Artist Membership application assessment does not evaluate or provide endorsement or accreditation. Assessment of an application for Artist Membership is based only on whether you are:

• An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person;
• A practising visual artist;
• Only selling your own artwork.

From 2025, Artist Members also must make declarations regarding their use of Indigenous Intellectual and Cultural Property (ICIP).

As an Artist Member, you are not a signatory to the Code, meaning membership is not based on compliance with the Code. Only Code Signatory Members commit to abide by the ethical standards set out in the Code, and therefore, only Code Signatory applications are assessed based on whether their business practices and behaviour comply with the Code.

Artist Members are provided with the IartC logo for use in line with the IartC Style Guide to promote their own artistic practice.

Read the Code

See also:

What is the Code vs IartC?

What is a voluntary industry code of conduct?

Code Supporter Members are organisations or individuals who are not engaged in commercial trade with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and their artwork. Commercial trade means the exchange of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artwork (selling or licensing) for profit.

Since they are not engaged in the commercial trade of artwork, Code Supporter Members do not apply to become signatories to the Indigenous Art Code (the Code) but declare their support of the standards outlined in the Code.

If your organisation promotes and facilitates the sale of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artwork, but the sale occurs directly with the artist or their art centre with no exchange for profit to your organisation, you may be eligible for Code Supporter Membership.

Please contact us to discuss before you apply.

Also read: Who is eligible for Code Signatory Membership of Indigenous Art Code?

Indigenous Art Code wants to see you paid fairly for your art, be supported to make informed choices about how and where you sell and license your artwork, and for your Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) rights to be respected.

To make an informed choice regarding a fair price/deal you need to have access to information that allows you to fully understand what is on offer (the terms of the deal). As an artist, you have the right to access transparent information from code signatories you are working with about who gets what percentage in the deal- a breakdown of the entire ‘money story’. You also have a right to negotiate, the right to ask for the deal in writing and the right to access independent legal advice.

Indigenous Art Code regards transparency as a core pillar of ethical trading in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Transparency means code signatories need to actively and openly communicate with you to ensure you fully understand any arrangements you enter, providing all information necessary to allow you to maintain agency in all aspects of the relationship and make informed decisions around any commercial dealings. Businesses and individuals who are selling or licensing your art should not make assumptions about what they think you need or want to know.

We also encourage you to have agreements reviewed by a lawyer prior to entering them.

Indigenous Art Code does not provide legal advice. Artists will be referred to the Arts Law Centre of Australia for low-cost or free legal advice. Indigenous Art Code can assist you by providing a referral to Arts Law or you can contact them directly:

Arts Law Centre of Australia
P: 1800 221 457 (toll-free)
E: artslaw@artslaw.com.au
W: www.artslaw.com.au

Indigenous Art Code wants to see you paid fairly for your art, be supported to make informed choices about how and where you sell and license your artwork, and for your Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) rights to be respected.

Indigenous Art Code is aware of some unscrupulous code signatories who pay artists a small amount for the artwork up front and go on to charge inflated retail prices for the work without letting the artist know the amount they intend to sell the work for. While not illegal, we do not consider this ethical practice, as the lack of transparency around the intended sale price does not allow the artist to make an informed choice.

To make an informed choice regarding a fair price/deal, you need to have access to information that allows you to fully understand what is on offer (the terms of the deal).

As an artist, you have the right to access transparent information from code signatories you are working with about who gets what percentage in the deal- a breakdown of the entire ‘money story’. You also have a right to negotiate, the right to ask for the deal in writing and the right to access independent legal advice.

Indigenous Art Code regards transparency as a core pillar of ethical trading in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Transparency means code signatories need to actively and openly communicate with artists to ensure they fully understand any arrangements they enter, providing all information necessary to allow artists to maintain agency in all aspects of the relationship and make informed decisions around any commercial dealings. Code Signatories should not make assumptions about what they think you need or want to know.

If you need assistance accessing transparent information from code signatories you are working with please reach out to us via 0497467794 or contact@indigenousartcode.org

You may be eligible to receive a resale royalty for works purchased from you and then resold by the code signatory.

See also:

What is the Resale Royalty Scheme?
How do I register for the Resale Royalty Scheme?
Will I get royalties on artwork sold overseas?
What do I do if a code signatory I work with asks me to opt out of the Resale Royalty Scheme?

Having a clear picture of the work you have made and the money that has been received will help you decide how to best proceed. If you are told by a code signatory that you have debt or book up and need to continue working with them until the debt is cleared, the first step is to ask them for all the details in writing of all artworks you have created for them since you started working with them.

Ask for a list of all artworks created. Make sure that the list includes the title, size and date of creation for each work. In addition to that you should ask for the following information in writing:

• The amounts you were paid for each artwork and how and when you received the payment;
• The sale price of each artwork (the amount the customer paid for the work);
• Details of any deductions made by the code signatory (such as for meals, accommodation, and materials).

If you have asked for this information and it hasn’t been supplied, or hasn’t been supplied in a way that makes sense to you, you can reach out to Indigenous Art Code for assistance. Or, if you aren’t able to ask the code signatory directly yourself, Indigenous Art Code may be able to help you communicate with the code signatory or communicate on your behalf.

Contact us on 0497467794 or contact@indigenousartcode.org for assistance.

Indigenous Art Code wants to see you treated and paid fairly, your art valued properly, and your Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights respected.

Indigenous Art Code supports artists to have access to transparent information about any commercial arrangements you enter. Considering that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists often do not enter a negotiation on a level playing field, the onus of actively working to correct this power imbalance rests with the code signatory wishing to engage with them. You need to have agency in decision-making and power imbalances that exist between artists and code signatories should not be exploited.

Indigenous Art Code cannot provide advice on pricing.

If you are an artist who is setting your own prices to sell directly to consumers, we recommend signing up to the National Association of the Visual Arts (NAVA). NAVA can provide professional advice and information such as guides and factsheets on how to set your prices. The NAVA Code of Practice is also a recommended resource.

If you are selling your work outright to a code signatory, to know what a fair price is you need to fully understand what is on offer (the terms of the deal). This includes what price they intend to sell the artwork for.

As an artist you have the right to access transparent information from code signatories you are working with about who gets what percentage in the deal- a breakdown of the entire ‘money story’.

If you believe your artwork has been reproduced without your permission, it is suggested that you seek legal advice from the Arts Law Centre of Australia.

If you are a member of Copyright Agency you can also direct your enquiry to them.

Indigenous Art Code does not provide legal advice. Artists will be referred to the Arts Law Centre of Australia for low-cost or free legal advice. The Indigenous Art Code can assist you by providing a referral to Arts Law. Indigenous Art Code can assist you by providing a referral to Arts Law or you can contact them directly:

Arts Law Centre of Australia
P: 1800 221 457 (toll-free)
E: artslaw@artslaw.com.au
W: www.artslaw.com.au

There is no standard fee arrangement in licensing. This is because there are many different factors in a licensing arrangement and every situation is unique. These variables include:

• How an artist’s artwork or design will be used (including details such as size and number of products); 
• How long an artist’s work will be used for; 
• Whether the licence is a one-off or will be involved in a range of applications; 
• Whether the licence is exclusive or non-exclusive; 
• The territory the licence covers (e.g. local, Australia or worldwide); 
• What sort of other uses might be included (for example, using the works to promote the product on social media or in advertising).  

As there are so many variables in a licence arrangement, it can be difficult for you (and your representatives) to know if you are being paid properly. This highlights the importance of both parties getting legal or other professional advice.

These three examples highlight the range and complexity of licensing:

• If a product is sold nationally through a major store the artist might receive a lower percentage of the sale price. However, because of the number of high volume of products sold, this could be a lucrative contract.  
• If products are sold at a modest price point and volumes and the contract covers a range of products and/or made over a period of time, this could mean mid-range fees for the artist. The fees paid might be a source of ongoing income for the artist. 
•  If a product is sold at low volume but a higher price point this contract might return a higher percentage of the sale price to the artist. The number of products sold is likely to be small. Often the artist receives payment for the entire production run in advance of them going on sale. 

It is important for you to understand the financial reality of licensing your artwork or design. For most artists, licencing provides small amounts of semi-regular income. Very few artists generate regular or large amounts. This is because making and selling a licensed product involves a chain of different people and businesses. Each person or business has costs such as freight, production, rent, wages, electricity and so on. The profit for each person or business is only a small part of their share of the total project and product sales.

For more information read this fact sheet on licensing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

The Indigenous Art Code recommends that you seek independent advice before entering into licensing agreements.

The Indigenous Art Code encourages that you consider joining the Copyright Agency. The Copyright Agency is a not-for-profit organisation that specialises in rights management for visual artists. They help member artists look after the rights to their work and ensure they receive fair payment for its use. In addition to being eligible to receive payments from the statutory licence schemes for education and governments, artist members of the Copyright Agency can also include their works in their annual licences for business use of text and images, and their visual arts pay-per-use licences for applications such as merchandising, magazines and auction catalogues. 

The Copyright Agency has an extensive network of licensing customers and 20 years of experience in licensing negotiations and product development. If you choose to work with the Copyright Agency for assistance in the management of any licensing arrangements, they can handle the negotiations, legal agreements, consultation and product development.

Alternatively, if you like to handle licensing negotiations yourself, Indigenous Art Code recommends you have any licensing agreements reviewed by an independent lawyer.

Indigenous Art Code does not provide legal advice. Artists will be referred to the Arts Law Centre of Australia for low-cost or free legal advice. The Indigenous Art Code can assist you by providing a referral to the Arts Law or you can contact them directly:

Arts Law Centre of Australia
P: 1800 221 457 (toll-free)
E: artslaw@artslaw.com.au
W: www.artslaw.com.au 

Indigenous Art Code encourages you to consider joining Copyright Agency.

Copyright Agency is a not-for-profit organisation that specialises in rights management for visual artists. They help member artists look after the rights to their work and ensure they receive fair payment for its use. In addition to being eligible to receive payments from the statutory licence schemes for education and governments, artist members of the Copyright Agency can also include their works in their annual licences for business use of text and images, and their visual arts pay-per-use licences for applications such as merchandising, magazines and auction catalogues.

Copyright Agency has an extensive network of licensing customers and 20 years in licensing negotiations and product development. If you choose to work with Copyright Agency for assistance in management of any licensing arrangements, they can handle the negotiations, legal agreements, consultation, and product development.

Indigenous Art Code recommends you enter into fair and transparent agreements with any code signatories you work with whether the agreement concerns the sale and consignment of original work or licensing. Agreements can be either verbal or written but often the simplest way to ensure they are both fair and transparent and clear to both parties, and to minimise misunderstandings, is to enter into a written agreement that is reviewed by an independent lawyer.

If a code signatory provides you with a written agreement, we recommend you have it reviewed before agreeing to it.

Indigenous Art Code does not provide legal advice. Artists will be referred to the Arts Law Centre of Australia for low-cost or free legal advice. Indigenous Art Code can assist you by providing a referral to the Arts Law or you can contact them directly:

Arts Law Centre of Australia
P: 1800 221 457 (toll-free)
E: artslaw@artslaw.com.au
W: www.artslaw.com.au

Templates for written agreements are available from the Arts Law Centre of Australia.

Indigenous Art Code recommends that you seek independent advice on any agreements to make sure you clearly understand the terms and conditions you will be entering into before signing.

Indigenous Art Code does not provide legal advice. Artists will be referred to the Arts Law Centre of Australia for low-cost or free legal advice. Indigenous Art Code can assist you by providing a referral to the Arts Law or you can contact them directly:

Arts Law Centre of Australia
P: 1800 221 457 (toll-free)
E: artslaw@artslaw.com.au
W: www.artslaw.com.au

Yes. A licence is for a specific use of a work. A licence does not mean the person or business owns the work or can use it any way other than what is written in the contract.

A licence is a contract, a set of rules, that says how that artwork image can be used and what sort of fee will be paid for that use. For any issue that sits outside what has been agreed in the licence, a new licence needs to be negotiated.

For more information about what licensing means for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists read here.

Indigenous Art Code does not comment on the business practices of non-Members. We recognise that businesses may be operating fairly and ethically without making the commitment to become a Code Signatory Member.

Indigenous Art Code is about supporting a fair go for artists irrespective of the membership status of the businesses you choose to work with. We are here to support and assist you to be in control and to maintain agency by making informed decisions about what arrangements you enter and who you choose to work with.

Indigenous Art Code wants to see you treated and paid fairly, your art valued properly, and your Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights respected.

To know what is fair, you need to fully understand what is on offer (the terms of the deal). You have the right to access transparent information from code signatories you are working with about who gets what percentage in the deal, a breakdown of the entire ‘money story’. You also have a right to negotiate, the right to ask for the deal in writing and the right to access independent legal advice.

You can always reach out to the Indigenous Art Code for information or support, including for help accessing transparent information from code signatories you are working with.

If you need assistance accessing transparent information from code signatories you are working with please contact us via email or call us on 0438 637 862.

Indigenous Art Code recommends that you enter into fair and transparent agreements with any art code signatories or businesses you work with. Agreements can be either verbal or written, but often the simplest way to ensure they are both fair and transparent is to enter into a written agreement that has been reviewed by an independent lawyer.

If an art code signatory or business provides you with a written agreement, we recommend you have it reviewed before agreeing to it.

Indigenous Art Code does not provide legal advice. Artists will be referred to the Arts Law Centre of Australia for low-cost or free legal advice. Indigenous Art Code can assist you by providing a referral to the Arts Law or you can contact them directly:

Arts Law Centre of Australia
P: 1800 221 457 (toll-free)
E: artslaw@artslaw.com.au
W: www.artslaw.com.au

Templates for written agreements are available from the Arts Law Centre of Australia.

There are a range of templates available for purchase (low-cost) including consignment agreements, licensing and gallery agreements, artist and art centre agreements and various other agreements.

If you enter into a verbal agreement, it is important that you have a complete understanding of the terms of the agreement. This means more than knowing the commission split or the amount you will receive upon sale of your artwork. You need to fully understand what is on offer (the terms of the deal). As an artist you have the right to access transparent information from code signatories you are working with about who gets what percentage in the deal and a breakdown of the entire ‘money story’.

You also need to understand what services the art code signatory or business will be responsible for. For example, a gallery that is presenting your work in an exhibition may be responsible for paying for framing, freight, insurance, marketing and promotion and exhibition opening costs. It is important to have a clear understanding of all these elements before you agree to anything.

A good place to start is by conducting an ABN look up. You can search using the ABN provided or by searching their business or entity name. This search will provide helpful information such as:

• The entity type;
• Whether the business is registered for GST. This indicates the size of the business, as businesses making over $75,000 must be registered for GST; 
• Provide information on any related entities or businesses. 

We also recommend you conduct some other online research, including searching for whether the business is a Code Signatory Member of Indigenous Art Code. 

If you have other questions about the business, including its structure, operating or business model, or anything you learn from the ABN lookup, we encourage you to ask the business.

Transparent and ethical code signatories will provide you with clear information.

If you believe that another artist is copying your artwork, it is suggested that you seek legal advice from the Arts Law Centre of Australia.

Indigenous Art Code does not provide legal advice. Artists will be referred to the Arts Law Centre of Australia for low-cost or free legal advice. Indigenous Art Code can assist you by providing a referral to Arts Law or you can contact them directly:

Arts Law Centre of Australia
P: 1800 221 457 (toll-free)
E: artslaw@artslaw.com.au
W: www.artslaw.com.au

‘Certificate of Authenticity’ is the term used widely in the Indigenous visual art market to describe the documentation provided to a consumer, usually by code signatories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, including art centres, to verify in writing that the artwork for sale is the original work of the artist named. Most often they are a single page document that is intended to ensure the integrity of statements about authenticity.

Photographs of an artist creating or holding an artwork are not certificates of authenticity.

Artists who create work with the support of an art centre or work with a gallery or code signatory often have certificates of authenticity created for them by those businesses. Artists who sell artwork directly to the consumer often make their own certificates of authenticity.

For more information refer to the information sheet on certificates of authenticity from the Arts Law Centre of Australia.

If you are working with a business that has an Indigenous Art Code Signatory Membership, Clause 5.1 of the Code stipulates that if these members receive Artwork directly from an Artist over the value of $250 must create a Code Certificate for that Artwork. A Code Certificate is a certificate of authenticity created by a Code Signatory Member of the Indigenous Art Code that includes the following:

i. A statement that it is an ‘Indigenous Art Code Certificate’;

ii. Name the Artist or Artists who created the Artwork;

iii. To the extent known, identify where and when the Artwork was created;

iv. Provide a description of the size and medium of the Artwork and of the title (if any) attributed by the Artist to the Artwork;

v. Identify the Code Signatory Member and state that they are ‘Signatory to the Indigenous Art Code’; and

vi. Contain a signed declaration from the Code Signatory Member confirming the accuracy of the details set out in the Code Certificate.

The Resale Royalty Scheme is a national scheme established by Resale Royalty Right For Visual Artists Act of 2009, which provides visual artists with rights similar to other creators, such as songwriters or authors, who receive royalty payments from their work. The purpose of the scheme is to recognise artists’ ongoing rights in their work and provide income from the resales of their work.

The artists’ resale royalty scheme started on 9 June 2010. Under the scheme:

• Commercial resales of artworks for $1,000 or more must be reported; and
• A 5% royalty is payable on some resales.

The Australian government appointed the Copyright Agency to manage the scheme. Key features of the scheme:

• It applies to resales of existing as well as new works;
• It applies to a range of original artworks, included limited edition prints authorised by the artist;
• It does not apply to a private sale from one individual to another;
• All resales worth $1,000 or more must be reported;
• A royalty is not payable if the seller acquired the work before 9 June, 2010;
• A royalty is not payable on resales worth under $1,000;
• A royalty is not payable if it is more than 70 years from the end of the year in which the artist died.

For more information on the Resale Royalty Scheme read the Copyright Agency’s fact sheet here.

Watch a short animation explaining the Resale Royalty Scheme here.

Read a more extensive list of FAQs from Arts Law relating to the Resale Royalty Scheme here.

See also: Do artists receive royalties on works sold overseas?

You can register your details for Resale Royalty with the Copyright Agency online here. Or contact:

Copyright Agency
P: 1800 066 844
E: resale@copyright.com.au

The Copyright Agency ask that you provide your details so they can quickly reach you and pay you when you have an eligible resale.

According to Copyright Agency: The Resale Royalty Right for Visual Artists Act 2009 (the Resale Act) allows for reciprocal resale rights to be established with countries that have an operating resale royalty scheme and which entitle Australian rights holders to benefit. Under these arrangements, Australian artists will receive royalties when their eligible works are resold in reciprocating countries, and artists from reciprocating countries will receive royalty payments for their eligible artworks resold in Australia.

As of 31 March 2024, reciprocating countries are:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hungary
• Italy
• Ireland
• Latvia
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Portugal
• Spain
• Sweden
• United Kingdom

More countries will be added over time. It is important to note that the resale royalty schemes of different countries vary, so depending on where an artwork is sold the royalty amount payable and any other conditions will also vary.

For more information contact Copyright Agency at resale@copyright.com.au

As an artist, you can ask the Copyright Agency not to collect a royalty for the resale of a specific artwork resale. You or your beneficiary must notify the Copyright Agency in writing within 21 days of the publication on the Copyright Agency’s website of details of that resale. You can then choose to recover the Resale Royalty directly from the buyer, seller or art market professional.

Such notice needs to be given in relation to each resale of an artwork for which you, or your representatives entitled to the royalty, do not want the Copyright Agency to collect the royalty. A permanent direction to the Copyright Agency not to collect the royalty for a particular artwork is not possible.

For more information we suggest you contact the Copyright Agency on 1800 066 844 or email resale@copyright.com.au

Artwork resales on eBay and similar online platforms fall under the same obligations as any other resale. If the sale is a commercial resale, that is, when an art market professional is involved, the resale should be reported to Copyright Agency and royalty will be paid if the resale meets all eligibility criteria.

If an art market professional is not involved and instead the sale is between one private person to another, it is not considered a commercial resale, and does not need to be reported or a royalty paid.

See also:

What is the Resale Royalty Scheme? As a code signatory, what are my obligations under the Resale Royalty Scheme?

You can search your name on the Notice of Resales to see a listing of eligible resales of your work since the scheme began.

If you are registered for the Resale Royalty Scheme you should be regularly receiving royalty statements from the Copyright Agency. If you are not receiving these statements or require any more information you can contact the Copyright Agency on 1800 066 844 or email resale@copyright.com.au

The Arts Law Centre of Australia is a good source of information about the PPSR and what it means for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and art centres.

Arts Law Centre of Australia information sheet on why art centres should register on the PPSR.

Arts Law provides a service to assist Indigenous art centres with registration:

Registration on the PPSR is not a simple process and to assist Art Centres, Arts Law offers advice and assistance to ensure that your registrations are effective.

Art Law’s PPSA Registration Service provides Indigenous Art Centres with a low-cost service to assist with PPSR registrations so that Art Centres can take steps to better protect themselves against the risks associated with the insolvency or bankruptcy of art galleries.

If you wish to access this service, it is important that you read this information carefully: Arts Law Centre of Australia information sheet on why art centres should register on the PPSR.

Also read the Australian Government’s fact sheet on the PPSR for Indigenous artists and art centres.

It is recommended that you register with the PPSR before you consign the works.

Licensing in the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art means an artist gives someone (a person or a business) permission to use their artwork, design or image. A licence is a contract – a set of rules – that says how that artwork, design or image can be used, what sort of fee will be paid, and what the limitations are for that use.

A licence is for a specific use of an artist’s work. A licence does not mean the person or business owns the work or can use it any way other than what is stipulated in the contract.

A licence is one of the ways in which an artist can use their copyright. Copyright is a law that says artists own the rights in their work, including the right to use – and allow others to use – their work. These rights include selling or licensing the use of their work (whether it be artwork or designs).

Copyright is a form of property created automatically every time an artist creates a work. Even if an artist sells an artwork, the copyright for that work remains with the artist regardless of who bought or owns the original artwork.

Similarly, when a customer buys an original artwork, they are not buying the copyright for the artwork. A customer who buys the artwork still needs the permission of the artist (or their family/trustee) if they want to do anything with the artwork other than exhibit it. It is rare for an artist to knowingly give away or sell the copyright in their work. In order for copyright to be assigned from an artist to a third party, it must be in writing to be legally enforceable. This is because copyright can be very valuable to an artist. Copyright lasts for 70 years after an artist’s death and during this time the artist (or their family/trustee) may be able to use the copyright to generate income and benefits. In nearly all cases it is best for an artist to remain the owner of their copyright and only licence other people or businesses to use their artwork for specific projects for a fixed period of time. This ensures artists remain in control of their artwork and obtain ongoing benefits from any form of its use.

For an overview of licensing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art read this factsheet here.

For more information on licensing see the Arts Law Centre of Australia’s factsheet here.

A supply chain refers to the various ways art travels from the artist to the consumer. There are a number of supply chain models operating in the Indigenous visual art market. The Indigenous Art Code has mapped five common supply chains active in the marketplace. They are:

• Artist – consumer direct model
• Artist – gallery model
• Artist – licensed product model
• Artist – art centre model
• Artist – upfront code signatory model

Indigenous Art Code is currently developing resources to explain and illustrate these models.

There is increasing interest from businesses wanting to exhibit and sell artwork by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. While supporting and engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists is encouraged, to do so properly, artists need to be in control and able to make informed decisions about what arrangements they enter and who they choose to work with.

It is essential the relationships businesses establish with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists are not simply extractive or transactional. The relationships need to be respectful, meaningful, transparent and fair.

We encourage you to read our checklists to learn more:

Ethical dealing: A checklist for businesses wanting to start trading in original artwork by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and/or art centres.

Also refer to:
National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) Code of Practice, Chapter 1 – Principles, Ethics, Rights: First Nations

We encourage code signatories in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, or those looking to become code signatories, to read the Indigenous Art Code (also known as the Code) and identify whether their business practices meet its requirements.

Another good starting place is to consider the question: Would I be happy to trade places with the artist in the deal I’m proposing?

It is also important to reflect on whether your arrangements with artists are respectful, meaningful, transparent and fair, rather than just extractive or transactional. Think carefully and honestly about your motivations. Your actions must match your words.

Indigenous Art Code has over 670 Artist Members. Similarly, around 80 art centres are Code Signatory Members of the Indigenous Art Code. Each member has a profile on this website. Member profiles often list contact details or ways to learn more about the artists or art centres.

There are thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists across the country and, as such, many ways to engage with them. We encourage you to research Aboriginal and Torres Strait art and culture widely, including from the region in which you live and work. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples come from distinct cultures and nations, and this is reflected in the breadth and diversity of artistic practice, languages and Country.

You are also encouraged to research the Indigenous art market and learn about artists working across the country by visiting galleries, looking at the work available online, attending art fairs, and researching the art from different regions. Peak bodies (ANKA, AACHWA, Desart, IACA, Ku Arts and UMI Arts) are a good source of information on art centres that have membership with them. It is through this research you are likely to find respectful ways to engage with artists and art centres.

The Resale Royalty Scheme is a national scheme established by Resale Royalty Right For Visual Artists Act of 2009, which provides visual artists with rights similar to other creators, such as songwriters or authors, who receive royalty payments from their work. The purpose of the scheme is to recognise artists’ ongoing rights and provide income from the resales of their work.

The artists’ resale royalty scheme started on 9 June 2010. Under the scheme:

• Commercial resales of artworks for $1,000 or more must be reported; and
• A 5% royalty is payable on some resales.

The Australian government appointed Copyright Agency to manage the scheme. Key features of the scheme:

• It applies to resales of existing as well as new works;
• It applies to a range of original artworks, included limited edition prints authorised by the artist;
• It does not apply to a private sale from one individual to another;
• All resales for $1,000 including GST or more must be reported;
• A royalty is not payable if the seller acquired the work before 9 June, 2010;
• A royalty is not payable on resales for under $1,000;
• A royalty is not payable if it is more than 70 years from the end of the year in which the artist died;

From 31 March 2025, the scheme extended to artworks from 26 countries that have similar schemes.

Learn about your obligations under the scheme as an Art Market Professional.

Learn about your obligations under the scheme if you are an Indigenous Art Centre.

Indigenous Art Code encourages all code signatories in commercial arrangements with artists and art centres to enter into written agreements.

Templates for written agreements are available for purchase from the Arts Law Centre of Australia.

Whilst entering into a written agreement is not a requirement of IartC Code Signatory Membership, there are requirements regarding how Code Signatories must engage with artists, including clearly explaining any agreement (written or verbal).

We encourage you to read the Code in detail, paying particular attention to Clauses 3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4. which outline the minimum best practice requirements for dealings with artists.

The Indigenous Art Code encourages all code signatories in commercial arrangements with artists and art centres to have written agreements.

Templates for written agreements are available for purchase from the Arts Law Centre of Australia.

There are a range of templates available including consignment agreements, licensing and gallery agreements and artist and art centre agreements and other agreements.

These templates reflect best practice (for example, when it comes to respecting an artist’s copyright and moral rights), but whether a written agreement is best practice will also depend on commercial factors such as whether or not an artist is being fairly paid for their work. Arts organisations can also seek ‘best practice’ advice from the Arts Law Centre of Australia, which advice is limited to terms and conditions reflecting best practice in protecting artists and the arts community:

Arts Law Centre of Australia
P: 1800 221 457 (toll-free)
E: artslaw@artslaw.com.au
W: www.artslaw.com.au

Indigenous Art Code does not take a position on the best terms to enter into with artists. Instead, IartC promotes and encourages code signatories and businesses to work transparently and fairly with artists.

Transparency means actively and openly communicating with artists to ensure they fully understand any arrangements they enter. This involves providing all information necessary to allow artists to maintain agency and make informed decisions around any commercial dealings. You should not make assumptions about what they think artists need or want to know.

Artists have the right to:

• Fully understand what is on offer (the terms of the deal). This includes having access to transparent information from code signatories about who gets what percentage in the deal and a breakdown of the entire ‘money story’.  
• Negotiate, ask for the deal in writing and access independent legal advice.

We ask Code Signatory Members of Indigenous Art Code to regularly reflect on power imbalances that exist between themselves and the artists they work with. When negotiating a contract or an arrangement we recommend that you consider the question – ‘would I be happy to trade places with the artist in this deal?’

Reflecting on whether this arrangement is one you would accept yourself is a good place to start.

There is increasing interest from businesses wanting to exhibit and sell artwork by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Whilst supporting and engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists is encouraged, to do so properly, artists need to be in control and able to make informed decisions about what arrangements they enter and who they choose to work with.

It is essential the relationships businesses establish with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists are not simply extractive or transactional. The relationships need to be respectful, meaningful, transparent and fair.

Read the Code to understand the best practice standards it expects from businesses that sell or license Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork.

Once your business is established and trading, we encourage you to apply to become a Code Signatory.

Learn more with the following resources:

IartC Ethical Dealing Guide

IartC Ethical Licensing Guide

Licensing: Arts Law Centre of Australia factsheet

National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) Code of Practice, Chapter 1 – Principles, Ethics, Rights: First Nations

Creative Australia: Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts

You can encourage artists to seek independent legal advice by providing them with the contact details for the Arts Law Centre of Australia which is able to assist artists with free or low-cost legal advice:

Arts Law Centre of Australia
P: 1800 221 457 (toll-free)
E: artslaw@artslaw.com.au
W: www.artslaw.com.au

It is also important not to pressure artists into making decisions or entering into agreements quickly. They need to be provided with enough time to seek independent legal advice. It is also critical and a requirement of Code Signatory Membership of the Code to allow a cooling off period (see clause 3.3).

Licensing in the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art means an artist gives someone (a person or a business) permission to use their artwork, design or image. A licence is a contract – a set of rules – that says how that artwork, design or image can be used, what sort of fee will be paid, and what the limitations are for that use.

A licence is for a specific use of an artist’s work. A licence does not mean the person or business owns the work or can use it any way other than what is stipulated in the contract.

A licence is one of the ways in which an artist can use their copyright. Copyright is a law that says artists own the rights in their work, including the right to use – and allow others to use – their work. These rights include selling or licensing the use of their work (whether it be artwork or designs).

Copyright is a form of property created automatically every time an artist creates a work. Even if an artist sells an artwork, the copyright for that work remains with the artist regardless of who bought or owns the original artwork.

Similarly, when a customer buys an original artwork, they are not buying the copyright for the artwork. A customer who buys the artwork still needs the permission of the artist (or their family/trustee) if they want to do anything with the artwork other than exhibit it. It is rare for an artist to knowingly give away or sell the copyright in their work. In order for copyright to be assigned from an artist to a third party, it must be in writing to be legally enforceable. This is because copyright can be very valuable to an artist. Copyright lasts for 70 years after an artist’s death and during this time the artist (or their family/trustee) may be able to use the copyright to generate income and benefits. In nearly all cases it is best for an artist to remain the owner of their copyright and only licence other people or businesses to use their artwork for specific projects for a fixed period of time. This ensures artists remain in control of their artwork and obtain ongoing benefits from any form of its use.

For an overview of licensing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art read this factsheet here.

For more information on licensing see the Arts Law Centre of Australia’s factsheet here.

‘Art centre’ is the term used in the Indigenous visual art sector to describe a visual art not- for-profit organisation owned and governed by a group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. The artists practising at an art centre are often linked by community, Country, language, or kinship.

Most art centres around Australia are Indigenous Corporations, incorporated under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006. Governed by a board, they support artists and arts workers with career and professional development. They also facilitate the production, marketing and sale of artwork and cultural products in the marketplace. Many art centres facilitate a range of programs linked to expression and maintenance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

The majority of art centres nationally are located in remote and regional communities and are supported by peak bodies including ANKA, AACHWA, Desart, IACA, and Ku Arts.

A supply chain refers to the various ways art travels from the artist to the consumer. There are a number of supply chain models operating in the Indigenous visual art market. The Indigenous Art Code has mapped five common supply chains active in the marketplace. They are:

• Artist – consumer direct model
• Artist – gallery model
• Artist – licensed product model
• Artist – art centre model
• Artist – upfront code signatory model

Indigenous Art Code is currently developing resources to explain and illustrate these models.

To become an IartC Code Signatory Member you need to already be actively engaging in commercial trade with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artists, either directly or indirectly. This trade might include licensing artwork, selling original artwork or selling licensed products.

Start-up businesses not yet trading in, or businesses yet to start selling, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art are not eligible to apply for Code Signatory Membership. Please wait until your business is trading in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art before applying.

The Indigenous Art Code does not provide advice on pricing. Instead, IartC promotes and encourages transparency and fairness for the artist.

Transparency means actively and openly communicating with artists to ensure they fully understand any arrangements they enter. This involves providing all information necessary to allow artists to maintain agency and make informed decisions around any commercial dealings. Galleries and businesses selling art should not make assumptions about what they think artists need or want to know.

Artists have the right to:

• Fully understand what is on offer (the terms of the deal). This includes having access to transparent information from code signatories about who gets what percentage in the deal and a breakdown of the entire ‘money story’.
• Negotiate, ask for the deal in writing and access independent legal and commercial advice.

When you are pricing an artist’s work that you have purchased directly from an artist, a good measure of whether your pricing is fair is to consider whether you are comfortable sharing the resale price of the artwork with the artist and whether you are comfortable sharing the amount you paid the artist with the customer.

If you aren’t comfortable sharing these amounts because you think others may think they are unfair, then you need to carefully reconsider your pricing.

Code Signatories are expected to keep records of the artwork sale price and make these available at an artist’s request (See 5.1 (c) of the Code).

It is important to regularly reflect on power imbalances that exist between yourself and the artists you work with or are purchasing or licensing art from. When negotiating a contract or an arrangement we recommend that you consider the question: ‘Would I be happy to trade places with the artist in this deal?’

Reflecting on whether this arrangement is one you would accept yourself is a good place to start when considering fair dealings with an artist.

The Arts Law Centre of Australia provides a useful description of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property or ICIP:

ICIP refers to all the rights that Indigenous people have, and want to have, to protect their traditional arts and culture.

ICIP is a short way of saying Australian “Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property”. Sometimes the words “Cultural Heritage” are used to mean the same thing.

The idea of ICIP is based on the principle of self-determination. ICIP is said to include the following rights:

• Right to protect traditional knowledge and sacred cultural material
• Right to ensure that traditional laws and customary obligations are respected, particularly when money is made from ICIP
• Eg when a T-shirt is manufactured with a print of a traditional motif on it, the design should be one that is allowed to be used for this purpose. 
• Right to be paid for use of ICIP, particularly if it has been used in a way which is inconsistent with traditional laws or without the community’s permission 
• Eg if someone copies traditional artwork onto fabric and sells it, then the community is compensated for the illegal use of that work. 
• Right to full and proper attribution or naming of the community connected with the ICIP 
• Right to prevent insulting, offensive and misleading uses of ICIP in all media 
• Eg an artwork containing traditional knowledge is printed on underwear. 
• Eg a large painting containing traditional knowledge is cut up by a gallery to make 10 small paintings. 
• Right to control the recording of cultural customs and expressions, and language which may be essential to cultural identity, knowledge, skill and teaching about Indigenous culture 
• Eg Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities can place conditions on an anthropologist who wants to write a book about their languages. 

See the full Arts Law Centre of Australia information sheet.

Dr Terri Janke has also developed considerable work on ICIP, including the Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts for the Australia Council of the Arts.

As Dr Janke states: “The creative arts are an important means of expressing ICIP – past, present and future. For Indigenous cultures, artistic and creative expressions of ICIP are important ways of storytelling, transmitting knowledge, preserving, celebrating and expressing culture and languages, reclaiming and maintaining culture, as well as passing culture down to future generations and raising awareness about Indigenous issues.”

She also describes some of the limitations to current laws protecting ICIP: “Australia’s current legal framework provides limited recognition and protection of ICIP rights. There is no Australian law set up specifically to protect ICIP, so Indigenous people and communities rely on existing laws – such as intellectual property laws – to protect parts of ICIP and enforce ICIP rights.”

At present Australian law does not protect:

• The underlying idea or information that is put into a work e.g., the story told in a painting; 
• A style or method of art e.g., cross hatching or dot painting techniques; 
• Traditional languages; 
• Performances such as dance and music which have not been recorded or written down; 
• Products or processes based on traditional knowledge such as traditional medicines or methods (for example, traditional methods of weaving). 

Indigenous Art Code is advocating for change in this area, including the introduction of standalone ICIP legislation.

Arts Law Centre of Australia provides a useful description of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property or ICIP: 

ICIP refers to all the rights that Indigenous people have, and want to have, to protect their traditional arts and culture. 

ICIP is a short way of saying Australian “Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property”. Sometimes the words “Cultural Heritage” are used to mean the same thing. 

The idea of ICIP is based on the principle of self-determination. ICIP is said to include the following rights: 

• Right to protect traditional knowledge and sacred cultural material 
• Right to ensure that traditional laws and customary obligations are respected, particularly when money is made from ICIP 
• Eg when a T-shirt is manufactured with a print of a traditional motif on it, the design should be one that is allowed to be used for this purpose. 
• Right to be paid for use of ICIP, particularly if it has been used in a way which is inconsistent with traditional laws or without the community’s permission 
• Eg if someone copies traditional artwork onto fabric and sells it, then the community is compensated for the illegal use of that work. 
• Right to full and proper attribution or naming of the community connected with the ICIP 
• Right to prevent insulting, offensive and misleading uses of ICIP in all media 
• Eg an artwork containing traditional knowledge is printed on underwear. 
• Eg a large painting containing traditional knowledge is cut up by a gallery to make 10 small paintings. 
• Right to control the recording of cultural customs and expressions, and language which may be essential to cultural identity, knowledge, skill and teaching about Indigenous culture 
• Eg Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities can place conditions on an anthropologist who wants to write a book about their languages. 

See the full Arts Law Centre of Australia information sheet here. 

Dr Terri Janke has also developed considerable work on ICIP, including the Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts for the Australia Council of the Arts. 

As Dr Janke states: 

The creative arts are an important means of expressing ICIP – past, present and future. For Indigenous cultures, artistic and creative expressions of ICIP are important ways of storytelling, transmitting knowledge, preserving, celebrating and expressing culture and languages, reclaiming and maintaining culture, as well as passing culture down to future generations and raising awareness about Indigenous issues. 

She also describes some of the limitations to current laws protecting ICP: 

Australia’s current legal framework provides limited recognition and protection of ICIP rights. There is no Australian law set up specifically to protect ICIP, so Indigenous people and communities rely on existing laws – such as intellectual property laws – to protect parts of ICIP and enforce ICIP rights.  

At present Australian law does not protect: 

• The underlying idea or information that is put into a work e.g., the story told in a painting; 
• A style or method of art e.g., cross hatching or dot painting techniques; 
• Traditional languages; 
• Performances such as dance and music which have not been recorded or written down; 
• Products or processes based on traditional knowledge such as traditional medicines or methods (for example, traditional methods of weaving). 

The Indigenous Art Code is advocating for change in this area, including for the introduction of stand-alone ICIP legislation. 

Licensing in the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art means an artist gives someone (a person or a business) permission to use their artwork, design or image. A licence is a contract – a set of rules – that says how that artwork, design or image can be used, what sort of fee will be paid, and what the limitations are for that use.

A licence is for a specific use of an artist’s work. A licence does not mean the person or business owns the work or can use it any way other than what is stipulated in the contract.

A licence is one of the ways in which an artist can use their copyright. Copyright is a law that says artists own the rights in their work, including the right to use – and allow others to use – their work. These rights include selling or licensing the use of their work (whether it be artwork or designs).

Copyright is a form of property created automatically every time an artist creates a work. Even if an artist sells an artwork, the copyright for that work remains with the artist regardless of who bought or owns the original artwork.

Similarly, when a customer buys an original artwork, they are not buying the copyright for the artwork. A customer who buys the artwork still needs the permission of the artist (or their family/trustee) if they want to do anything with the artwork other than exhibit it. It is rare for an artist to knowingly give away or sell the copyright in their work. In order for copyright to be assigned from an artist to a third party, it must be in writing to be legally enforceable. This is because copyright can be very valuable to an artist. Copyright lasts for 70 years after an artist’s death and during this time the artist (or their family/trustee) may be able to use the copyright to generate income and benefits. In nearly all cases it is best for an artist to remain the owner of their copyright and only licence other people or businesses to use their artwork for specific projects for a fixed period of time. This ensures artists remain in control of their artwork and obtain ongoing benefits from any form of its use.

For an overview of licensing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art read this factsheet here.

For more information on licensing see the Arts Law Centre of Australia’s factsheet here.

Licensing in the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art means an artist gives someone (a person or a business) permission to use their artwork, design or image. A licence is a contract – a set of rules – that says how that artwork, design or image can be used, what sort of fee will be paid, and what the limitations are for that use.

A licence is for a specific use of an artist’s work. A licence does not mean the person or business owns the work or can use it in any way other than what is stipulated in the contract.

A licence is one of the ways in which an artist can use their copyright. Copyright is a law that says artists own the rights in their work, including the right to use – and allow others to use – their work. These rights include selling or licensing the use of their work (whether it be artwork or designs).

Copyright is a form of property created automatically every time an artist creates a work. Even if an artist sells an artwork, the copyright for that work remains with the artist regardless of who bought or owns the original artwork. Similarly, when a customer buys an original artwork, they are not buying the copyright for the artwork. A customer who buys the artwork still needs the permission of the artist (or their family/trustee) if they want to do anything with the artwork other than exhibit it. It is rare for an artist to knowingly give away or sell the copyright in their work. In order for copyright to be assigned from an artist to a third party, it must be in writing to be legally enforceable. This is because copyright can be very valuable to an artist. Copyright lasts for 70 years after an artist’s death and during this time the artist (or their family/trustee) may be able to use the copyright to generate income and benefits.

In nearly all cases it is best for an artist to remain the owner of their copyright and only licence other people or businesses to use their artwork for specific projects for a fixed period of time. This ensures artists remain in control of their artwork and obtain ongoing benefits from any form of its use.

See also:
Factsheet on licensing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art

Arts Law Centre of Australia’s licensing factsheet

Copyright Act 1968

The Arts Law Centre of Australia describes copyright as:

Copyright is a bundle of rights in relation to certain types of subject matter. Copyright protects the subject matter from being copied or used in certain ways without the copyright owner’s permission.

As such, copyright is a mechanism for artists to protect and monetise their creativity. Copyright protects two categories of subject matter: ‘works’, being literary works (textual material), dramatic works, musical works and artistic works; and ‘subject matter other than works’, being sound recordings, films, television and sound broadcasts and published editions.

Copyright does not protect ideas, but instead it protects the particular expression of the ideas in a material form. Importantly, copyright exists separately from the physical work, and as such the sale of the physical work does not automatically include the copyright.

In Australia, as in most countries, copyright is an automatic right - it is free and there is no need to register copyright. It is not required to display the copyright symbol, but it is a good idea to do so together with the name of the copyright owner to put people on notice that the material is protected by copyright.

Learn more about copyright including what is protected, the rights of the copyright owner and dealing in copyright by reading this information sheet from the Arts Law Centre of Australia here.

The Arts Law Centre of Australia provides some helpful information about moral rights:

Moral rights protect the personal relationship between a creator and their work even if the creator no longer owns the work, or the copyright in the work. Moral rights concern the creator’s right to be properly attributed or credited, and the protection of their work from derogatory treatment.

Moral rights are personal rights contained in the ‘Copyright Act 1968’ that connect creators to their work. Moral rights exist in relation to artistic, literary, dramatic and musical works and films but not sound recordings. Some performers also have limited moral rights in certain live or recorded performances.

Moral rights are distinct from the economic rights included in copyright. Thus an employed artist who does not own copyright in the visual artworks created as part of his employment nevertheless has moral rights in those artworks. A musician who has sold his copyright to a record label still has moral rights in his musical compositions.

Moral rights arise automatically under the Copyright Act. There are three types of moral rights:

• Right of attribution: this is the right of an author or artist to be identified and named as the creator of their work;
• Right against false attribution: this is the right of an author/artist to stop someone else being credited as the creator of their work; and
• Right of integrity: this is the right of an author/artist to ensure that their work is not subjected to derogatory treatment which is any act in relation to the work that is in any manner harmful to their honour or reputation.

To learn more access the Arts Law Centre of Australia’s information sheet here.

When an individual, a business or organisation buys an original artwork, they are not buying the copyright of the artwork or any rights other than the ownership of the physical work. The purchaser of an artwork still needs the permission of the artist (or their family/trustee) if they want to do anything with the artwork other than exhibit it. This permission is granted via a licence.

See also:
What is artwork licensing?

Copyright Act 1968

Indigenous Art Code has over 670 Artist Members. Similarly, around 80 art centres are Code Signatory Members of the Indigenous Art Code. Each member has a profile on this website.

You can search for our current Members here. Member profiles often list contact details or ways to learn more about the artists or art centres. You can directly approach an artist or art centre to discuss licensing their work.

Another option is to work with the Copyright Agency. Many Artist Members of the Indigenous Art Code are also members of the Copyright Agency. The Copyright Agency is a not-for-profit members-based organisation that collects fees and distributes royalties to creator members for the reuse of text and images.

Copyright Agency works closely with artists and art centres in metropolitan, regional and remote communities licensing their works to a wide variety of customers. They can assist you in sourcing works for your project, ensure the artist is happy with the use and put an agreement in place.

By licensing Indigenous artwork through Copyright Agency, you can be assured that you are following best practice, respecting the artists’ rights, and that the artists or beneficiaries are receiving fair payment for the use of their work.

Read about the Copyright Agency and their four steps to licensing here.

A directory of the artists they work with is here and the art centres they work with here.

To avoid problems with licensing, it is vital that the licence terms are clear, documented and understood by everyone, regardless of language or literacy levels. Because licensing can be so different each time and has so many variables, it is hard to set out standards or benchmarks. There are some important things to think about each and every time an artist, or their representative, considers a licensing opportunity.

In order for artists to determine if the remuneration is fair they need to know and be realistic about:

• What they will earn; 
• When and how they will be paid; 
• What they will control; 

Artists must be paid fairly. Fair means:

• Artists gaining meaningful benefit;
• Is not to the artists’ detriment; 
• The licence is mutual – that is, all parties are getting similar benefits;  
• All parties understand the terms of the contract; 
• Artists supported to access independent advice;  
• A level playing field with access to transparent information;  
• A cooling off period, right to terminate and price information is included in the contract. 
  

A clear, strong agreement is crucial. It is also important not to pressure artists into making decisions or entering into agreements quickly. They need to be provided with enough time to seek independent legal advice. It is also critical, and a requirement of Code Signatory Membership of the Code, to allow a cooling off period (see clause 3.3).

IartC encourages artists to have all contracts independently reviewed by a lawyer. Artists are encouraged to have all contracts independently checked. Code Signatories and businesses should also encourage this, as well as ensure artists are provided with enough time to make this possible. The Arts Law Centre of Australia provides a document review service available to artists:

Arts Law Centre of Australia
P: 1800 221 457 (toll-free)
E: artslaw@artslaw.com.au
W: www.artslaw.com.au

Copyright Agency offers members a visual arts licensing service. Copyright Agency can manage requests artists receive to license their artwork and broker a competitive license for them.

Agreements should use clear words and a form that is easily understood. Arts Law Centre of Australia also provides guidance on the elements that should be included in a strong licensing agreement in their factsheet.

There is no standard fee arrangement in licensing. This is because there are many different factors in a licensing arrangement and every situation is unique. These variables include how an artist’s artwork or design will be used (including things like size and number of products), how long an artist’s work will be used for, whether the licence is a one-off or will cover a range of uses, the territory the licence covers (e.g. local, Australia or worldwide) and what sort of other uses might be included (for example, using the works to promote the product on social media or in advertising).

Because there are so many variables in licencing arrangements, it can be difficult for artists (or their representatives) to know if they are being paid properly. This highlights the importance of both parties getting legal or other professional advice.

For more information about licensing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art read here.

Yes. A licence is for a specific use of an artist’s work. A licence does not mean the person or business owns the work or can use it any way other than what is written in the contract.

A licence is a contract, a set of rules, that says how that artwork’s image can be used and what sort of fee will be paid for that use. For any issue that sits outside what has been agreed to, a new licence needs to be negotiated.

For more information about licensing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art read this factsheet.

Under Australian law, a ‘licence’ will arise where the ‘licensor’ (the creator) grants to a ‘licensee’ the right to use or do some other act in relation to the property or right of the licensor.

In relation to licensing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, the licensor is typically the artist or other copyright holder, and the licensee is typically the business or institution that wishes to obtain a licence to reproduce the artwork.

Indigenous Art Code has over 670 Artist Members, however, there are thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across the country. We do not suggest you limit your engagement with artists to only those who are Artist Members of Indigenous Art Code.

Artist Members are not signatories to The Code, their membership functions as a means of adding their voice to the call for a fair, ethical and transparent Indigenous visual arts industry.

Buying art directly from an artist is great opportunity to learn more about the artist and their work. Be genuine in showing your interest and respectful when asking the artist questions. Here are a few things to consider: 

·      Don’t haggle on price. The price of an artwork has been self-determined by the artist and may reflect the cultural knowledge, level of skill and time involved in its creation and/or represent a proven market value that has already been established for their work. 

·      The work of an artist identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander is intrinsically linked to their cultural identity and authority, their experiences and their perspective of the world as a First Nations person. Their artwork will reflect these unique and varied expressions. 

For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists art is a lifeline. It is an expression of their culture and heritage and maintains and sustains their relationship to Country, sky and waters. It is also important financially and helps to support artists and their families. In many communities, art sales are the main source of income.

Making sure you always buy ethically is not just about protecting the buyer’s investment. It’s a means of respecting the world’s oldest living culture, securing a sustainable future for Australia’s Indigenous art industry and ensuring artists are paid and treated fairly.

Indigenous Art Code encourages buyers to take an active and engaged role in ensuring the artwork they purchase comes from ethical sources and that artists are paid and treated fairly by those that trade in their work. Buyers, can and should, play a part in ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists get a fair go. When buying art, we urge you to buy what you love but make sure artists are treated ethically in the process.

There are thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across the country. Many are members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned art centres, and many work independently of an art centre’s structure and support.

Different models suit different artists. Indigenous Art Code does not suggest that purchasing from any single source is superior to another. We encourage buyers to learn about the business model of any code signatory you plan to purchase from and how that informs their relationship with the artist.

Artists should be empowered in their decision making regarding commercial agreements and be able to negotiate the market on their terms.

Buying Directly from an Artist

This is a great opportunity to learn more about the artist and their work. Be genuine in showing your interest, and respectful when asking the artist questions.

Here are a few things to consider:

• Don't haggle on price. The price of an artwork has been self-determined by the artist and may reflect the cultural knowledge, level of skill and time involved in its creation, and/or represent a proven market value that has already been established for their work.
• The work of an artist identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander is intrinsically linked to their cultural identity and authority, their experiences and their perspective of the world as a First Nations person. Their artwork will reflect these unique and varied expressions.

Buying from a Code Signatory

We encourage consumers to look for and purchase from IartC Code Signatory Members. Code Signatories must adhere to, and demonstrate a commitment to, upholding the ethical standards laid out in the Code. Read the Code here.

You can search current Code Signatory Members here.

Ethical dealers will be happy to answer any questions you have about:

• The artist – their artwork, history and community
• Their relationship with the artist, including how long the code signatory has been working with them and/or their art centre
• How the code signatory sources the art, and how it pays the artists
• How much of the sale price goes to the artist.

Ask Questions

We encourage consumers, irrespective of where and how they purchase artwork (in person or online), to do their research, inform themselves about the artists and their communities and to ask questions. Three good questions to start with are:

• Who is the artist?
• Where is the artist from?
• How does the artist get paid

Power Imbalances

Our experience is of a market in which most dealers behave fairly and ethically most of the time, but there are still too many instances of artists being subject to problematic and exploitative behaviour by some individuals.

The common characteristic of problematic behaviour raised with the IartC is coercion by the individual in the perceived position of power. The power imbalance in this sector is real and one which many artists are subject to. Any individual or business engaging in the exhibition, promotion and sale of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander art should be cognisant of this. Valuing and appreciating art extends to respecting culture and creating safe environments for the artists to freely engage in and express their own artistic and cultural practice.

For more information read:

Advice for purchasing art ethically

Seven Stories About You by Claire G. Coleman

It can be difficult to know for sure. A code signatory who has fair and transparent agreements with the artists they work with won’t shy away from answering your questions. While the code signatory might not tell you exact details of the payment, they should be comfortable telling where and how they sourced the work including:

• Whether the work has been consigned to the gallery, meaning a percentage of the amount you pay the gallery or code signatory will be paid to the artist. You can ask what percentage the artists will receive. 
• If the code signatory or gallery purchased the work from the artist upfront, what was the artist paid?
  - Note: if the code signatory has purchased the artwork upfront, they are carrying some of the risk because there is no guarantee they will sell the work. However, as a consumer, if you are paying, for example, $3000 for a painting and the artist received $500, you might want to think about the fairness of that price disparity. At times code signatories may respond to this question by saying they “paid the price the artist asked for”. The question here is ‘did the artist have access to transparent information in order to know how much the code signatory intended to sell the work for, before they agreed to the price they would be paid?’ 
• If you are purchasing work from a gallery where the artwork is being resold to you (not on consignment) for over $1000 you can also ask the code signatory if they report resales to the Resale Royalty Scheme. 

If a code signatory is resistant to providing transparent information about the agreement they have in place and how they work with and pay artists, then perhaps reconsider your purchase. At the end of the day, you may need to go with your gut.

As a consumer who is concerned with the fair treatment of artists, you have a right to know how they have been paid.

See also:

What is the Resale Royalty Scheme? As a code signatory, what are my obligations under the Resale Royalty Scheme?

‘Art centre’ is the term used in the Indigenous visual art sector to describe a visual art not- for-profit organisation owned and governed by a group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. The artists practising at an art centre are often linked by community, Country, language, or kinship.

Most art centres around Australia are Indigenous Corporations, incorporated under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006. Governed by a board, they support artists and arts workers with career and professional development. They also facilitate the production, marketing and sale of artwork and cultural products in the marketplace. Many art centres facilitate a range of programs linked to expression and maintenance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

The majority of art centres nationally are located in remote and regional communities and are supported by peak bodies including ANKA, AACHWA, Desart, IACA, and Ku Arts.

An art centre is a non-profit organisation owned by its members, a collective of artists. Art centres exist to support artists, provide professional development and facilitate the production, marketing and sale of work in the marketplace. As a not for profit, art centres provide services to their community and do not operate to make a profit. Any ‘profit’ generated is invested back into the services the organisation provides to its members.

What is widely understood as the ‘art centre model’ is based around a percentage of the sale price of works. Usually 50-60% of the sale prices of an artwork goes to the artist, with the remainder (usually 40-50%) going back into the artists-owned business. This percentage or commission is paid to enable the business to keep operating and to continue providing services to the artists and community. Most art centres do receive some Government funding and the income generated by the commission supplements this funding, allowing for a greater range of services and activities that benefit community members. Commission income typically supports the art centre to employ staff, operate artist facilities and amenities, maintain vehicles, take artists on trips to Country and to markets and sell the works through art fairs, exhibitions, and other events.

Art centres are self-determined Indigenous-owned and controlled businesses.

See also:
What is an art centre?

Most art centres and many independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists have long- term and established relationships with commercial galleries. Art centres and artists often enter these relationships to enable opportunities for exhibition, sale and marketing of their work, career development and access to audiences, which would not be possible without the support of the gallery. Some art centres do not have the resources and staff capacity to offer the customer service necessary to make sales to customers from the general public.

Art centres and the galleries that represent them operate under a range of arrangements. Galleries often present and curate highly sought-after work that has been provided to the gallery by the artist or art centre for themed or special exhibitions. This work is often not available directly from the artist or art centre.

Some artists and art centres sell work directly to consumers, as well as through a commercial gallery. Others prefer to focus on artwork creation and development and leave the marketing and sale of the work entirely to the gallery.

Do your own research about where the work you’d like to purchase is available. The most important thing is that any work purchased comes from ethical sources and that artists are paid and treated fairly by those that deal in their work.

The most powerful thing you can do to ensure you support artists and their communities is to make sure your next purchase comes from a code signatory who sources their work ethically.

If you believe misrepresentations have been made to you about the work you can lodge a consumer issue with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) here. Visit here for details of what the ACCC can and can’t do for consumers.

See also:
How can I be sure I’m purchasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art ethically?

We encourage consumers, irrespective of how and where they purchase artwork by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, to ask questions, do their research and inform themselves about the artists and their communities.

We suggest you ask questions. Three good questions to start with are:

1. Who is the artist? 
2. Where is the artist from? 
3. How does the artist get paid? 

For other questions to consider see: Advice for purchasing art ethically.

Fake art in the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art are products that are for sale that ‘look and feel’ like Indigenous art but have no connection to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture or communities.

These commercially produced goods, mostly aimed at the tourist market, are often made from non-traditional materials and feature inauthentic and culturally inappropriate and appropriative designs. They range from bamboo didgeridoos to key rings to paintings.

Just because a product is produced overseas or industrially produced does not necessarily mean it is fake art. Some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists fairly license their original and authentic artworks to be reproduced on products manufactured overseas. Often an artist will enter into a fair and transparent commercial agreement with a business which will have products produced overseas. These arrangements involve agreements between the artist and the business producing the product, in which the artist is fairly remunerated.

A bone China cup featuring Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander art that is manufactured overseas and licensed fairly by the artist is ethical. A bone China cup featuring Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander art that is manufactured overseas and is not licensed by an Aboriginal artist is not.

A tell-tale sign of a fairly licensed product is one that attributes the artwork to the artist and provides details about them. Often the information that comes with the product will also provide details of the royalties the artist receives. We encourage consumers to ask questions around the specifics of these arrangements. Generally, ethical businesses will have no trouble providing further detail.

Be wary of products that do not provide details about the artist and that use generic or elusive terms such as ‘Aboriginal style’. Be wary also of products that do not name any artists but claim Aboriginal artists contributed to the product. If in doubt, ask. If the answer is unclear or does not provide clarity on who the artist is, how they contributed to the work and what remuneration they have received, we suggest you walk away from the purchase.

Any artwork, product or merchandise featuring the work of an artist should be attributed to that artist. Artists have moral rights to be properly attributed or credited for their artwork (unless it is reasonable in all the circumstances not to do so). If the name of the artist is not present somewhere on either the product itself or the packaging or accompanying documentation, it could be sign that the work is fake or inauthentic art.

Beyond the name of the artist, high value art and products usually come with other documentation. Code Signatory Members of Indigenous Art Code are required to provide a Code Certificate of authenticity for any work over the value of $250. As a buyer you should insist on it.

We encourage consumers to ask lots of questions of any code signatory they plan to purchase from, particularly if this information is not provided on the documentation that comes along with the work.

Three questions to start with are:

1. Who is the artist? 
2. Where is the artist from? 
3. How does the artist get paid? 

For other questions to consider asking, read: Advice for purchasing art ethically.

See also:

What are moral rights?

How do I tell the difference between a product that has fake art on it and a product that has artwork fairly licensed on it?

Indigenous-owned businesses that are Members of the Indigenous Art Code are clearly identified as such on their member profile. You can also filter search for current Indigenous-owned Code Signatory Members here.

Most Indigenous-owned businesses will refer to this somewhere on their website or other information relating to their business. Often the community or Country the business owners are connected to will be listed. Many Indigenous-owned businesses are also members of Supply Nation – a register of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned businesses.

If you are unclear about whether a business is Indigenous-owned, we suggest you ask. This question could refer to what community or Country the business owners are connected to.

Indigenous Art Code is not able to provide valuations of artwork. Artwork valuations can only be done by a qualified valuer.

The Australian Government provides a list of valuers approved under their Cultural Gifts Program. You can search for IartC Code Signatory Members who are  approved valuers under this program by filtering for this criteria on our member search.

Numeric or alpha-numeric codes written on artwork typically relate to a catalogue number assigned to work by the artist, art centre, code signatory or gallery at the time of its creation. They do not relate to the Indigenous Art Code, which is a code of conduct.

These codes or catalogue numbers refer to the database of the artist, art centre, code signatory or gallery. There is not a central database for these codes nationally. Usually, the certificate of authenticity provided with the work will refer to the catalogue number and also indicate who assigned the catalogue number to the work. The works are assigned the code so that the artist, art centre, code signatory or gallery can refer to their database if needed at a later stage. If you need more information you need to seek this from the artist, art centre, code signatory or gallery which assigned the code or from which you purchased the work.

Some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists sign their work, many do not. The absence of a signature on an artwork does not necessarily indicate it is not by the artist stated on other documentation.

Within the market for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, certificates of authenticity are the most used method to verify in writing that the artwork for sale is the original work of the artist named. Certificates of authenticity are most often a single-page document that are intended to ensure the integrity of statements about authenticity. Photographs of an artist creating or holding an artwork are not certificates of authenticity.

See also:

What is a certificate of authenticity?

Certificates of authenticity are the most widely used and accepted form of documentation used in the Indigenous visual art market. Certificates of Authenticity verify in writing that the artwork for sale is the original work of the artist named. Certificates of authenticity are most often a single page document that are intended to ensure the integrity of statements about authenticity. Photographs of an artist creating or holding an artwork are not certificates of authenticity.

Certificates of authenticity are widely accepted by major state and national galleries and museums for the purposes of donating artwork. Most major auction houses will only accept certificates of authenticity for the purposes of selling a work on the secondary market.

Code Signatory Members of Indigenous Art Code are required to provide a Code Certificate of authenticity for any work over the value of $250. As a buyer, you should insist on it from any code signatory you purchase artwork from.

We encourage consumers to ask lots of questions of any code signatory they plan to purchase from, particularly if this information is not provided on the documentation that comes along with the work.

Three questions to start with are:

1. Who is the artist?
2. Where is the artist from?
3. How does the artist get paid?

For more good questions to ask, read: Advice for purchasing art ethically.

See also:

What is a certificate of authenticity?

On occasion consumers contact Indigenous Art Code to help them find out information about artworks they own but do not know the history of. The Indigenous Art Code is a voluntary industry code of conduct, not a cataloguing system. Any numeric or alpha-numeric codes on artworks are usually catalogue numbers of an art centre or gallery where an artwork was created or sold.

Indigenous Art Code is a membership-based organisation with countless connections to artists and code signatories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork. Researching artists and artworks for consumers sits outside our remit.

If you know the name of the gallery, art centre or code signatory the work was purchased from we suggest you reach out to them. Usually they require the catalogue number (if any) written on the artwork and the artist’s name to search their database.

Otherwise, we suggest you research online any information you know about the artist, the work or the region they are from. A qualified art valuer may also be able to assist you to attribute or research the work.

See also:

There is a catalogue number or written code on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork that I own. What does it mean?

How do I have artwork I own valued?

Generally ‘carpetbagging’ is understood to mean an outsider who seeks power or success presumptuously. In the 2007 inquiry report Indigenous Art - Securing the Future Australia’s Indigenous visual arts and craft sector, chapter 8.15 included the following reference to carpetbagging:

Many participants in discussion about Indigenous art use 'carpetbagger' as a pejorative term in describing code signatories involved in the exploitation of Indigenous artists. The term carpetbagger can be applied to particular individuals, backyard code signatories, commercial gallery owners, private agents, or persons operating other legitimate businesses such as car yards or motels.[10] Such a person is usually not Indigenous and seeks to obtain art from an artist at a price well below what that person knows or ought to know is a reasonable market price, with the intention of selling it on at a substantial profit.[11] It often involves taking advantage of the artist's age, poverty, medical condition or other disadvantage. Carpetbagging has become a problem through the combination of the great success of Indigenous art[12] and the weak economic bargaining position in which Indigenous people frequently find themselves.[13]

The term ‘carpetbagger’ is often understood to denote a code signatory who operates unfairly or unethically. Whilst this conduct may not be illegal that doesn’t mean it is considered fair. Code Signatories should not exploit power imbalances or leverage decisions made by artists particularly when those decisions are made from a position of financial desperation.

See also:

How can I be sure I’m purchasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art ethically?

A supply chain refers to the various ways art travels from the artist to the consumer. There are a number of supply chain models operating in the Indigenous visual art market. The Indigenous Art Code has mapped five common supply chains active in the marketplace. They are:

• Artist – consumer direct model
• Artist – gallery model
• Artist – licensed product model
• Artist – art centre model
• Artist – upfront code signatory model

Indigenous Art Code is currently developing resources to explain and illustrate these models.

We encourage consumers to look for and purchase from members of the Indigenous Art Code (IartC). Code Signatory Members of the Indigenous Art Code must adhere to, and demonstrate a commitment to, upholding the ethical standards laid out in the Code. Read the Code here.

Search for current IartC Members.

The Indigenous Art Code has over 670 Artist Members, however there are thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across the country. We do not suggest you limit your engagement with artists to only those who are Artist Members of the Indigenous Art Code.

As Artist Members are not signatories to the Code, their Membership functions as a means of adding their voice to the call for fair and ethical treatment of artists within the Indigenous visual arts industry.

We encourage you to research Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture widely, including from the region in which you live and work. Purchasing from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists directly is a great way to support their artistic practice.

We also encourage consumers irrespective of how and where they purchase artwork by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to ask questions, do their research and inform themselves about the artists and their communities.

Irrespective of where you buy art, we suggest you ask lots of questions:

Three questions to start with are:

1. Who is the artist? 
2. Where is the artist from? 
3. How does the artist get paid? 

Some other questions to consider: Advice for purchasing art ethically.

The Indigenous Art Code does not comment on the business practices of non-members. We recognise that businesses may be operating fairly and ethically without being Code Signatories.

Irrespective of whether you buy artwork from a member of the Indigenous Art Code, we encourage all consumers to do their research, be active, engaged and ask questions.

Three questions to start with are:

1. Who is the artist? 
2. Where is the artist from? 
3. How does the artist get paid? 

Some other questions to consider:

• How was the artwork or product supplied to the gallery or shop for purchase- is it on consignment, or does the seller own the artwork?
  - Consignment means the code signatory has not bought the artwork upfront, the artist still owns the artwork and the code signatory has an agreement with the artist to pay a set percentage of the retail price once the artwork is sold. If the code signatory owns the artwork the artist has less, or often no, control over what price it is sold to you for.If it is a reproduction of an artist’s work, how are royalties or licensing fees paid to the artist?
  
• If the artwork is a reproduction, which might include homewares and textiles, how are royalties or licensing fees paid to the artist?
• Is there a licensing agreement in place with the artist?
• How long has the business been in operation?
  - If the business suddenly appeared from nowhere, where were they, or what name were they trading under, before?
  
• Is the business a member of the Indigenous Art Code?
  - If yes, you know it has agreed to follow the guidelines of the Code.

More advice for purchasing art ethically.

There are thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across the country. Many are members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned art centres and many work independently of any art centre structure and support.

There are five main supply chain models operating in the Indigenous visual art market (see link below). Indigenous Art Code does not suggest one supply chain is superior to another; ethical practice is found in the execution of the associated business model. We encourage buyers to take an active and engaged role in learning about the business model of any code signatory you plan to purchase from and the way it is applied to the relationship the business has with the artist.

Different models suit different artists. What is most important is that artists can exercise agency in decision-making regarding commercial agreements and that they can negotiate the market on their own terms, whatever they may be.

There are also many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists across Australia who work independently of any art centre structure and support. They are individual artists who rely on income from their art making and the relationships they have with code signatories and commercial galleries. Their livelihoods are dependent on working with code signatories and galleries or making direct sales.

We encourage consumers, however they purchase artwork, to take an active and engaged role in ensuring artists are treated and paid fairly.

See also:

What are some of the different supply chains operating in the market for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art?

How can I be sure I’m purchasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art ethically?

For some artists, selling directly to the consumer is their preferred method. Others prefer to work with art centres, galleries and other code signatories. They may prefer to focus on their own art practice and leave the marketing and sale of their work to their art centre or the gallery or code signatory they work with. Other factors such as access to technology, English literacy and location may come into play. Some artists may work through multiple channels.

Buying directly from an artist can be an excellent opportunity to learn more about the artist and their art. A few things to consider:

• Be genuine in showing your interest and respectful when asking the artist questions.
• Don’t haggle. The artist has determined the price of an artwork to reflect the cultural knowledge, skill and time involved in its creation and may represent a market value already established for their work.
• Expressions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art are diverse, reflecting the artist’s cultural identity, experiences and perspective of the world as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

Indigenous Art Code does not suggest one selling method, or supply chain model, is superior to another. Artists should be empowered in their decision making regarding commercial arrangements and be able to negotiate the market on their terms.

See also:

How can I be sure I’m purchasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art ethically?

Is purchasing work that comes directly from art centres the most ethical way to buy?

Indigenous Art Code does not provide lists of where not to buy. Instead, we encourage all consumers to do their research, be active, engaged and ask questions.

There are some ‘red flags’ or warning signs we encourage consumers to look out for. Irrespective of the place of sale, ethical galleries, art code signatories and retailers will be willing and able to answer questions in any of the following areas:

• About the artist – his or her other work, history and community.
• About the art centre – where is it? How long has the gallery been working with them?
  Does this artist always work through this art centre?
  
• How does the gallery source its art generally and how does it pay the artists?
• How much of the sale price goes to the artist?

Artists have a right to know the ‘money story’ for their art and buyers can ask too. Most ethical code signatories are open about their business models. Many get their work from art centres and artists on ‘consignment’ and pay the art centres a fixed percentage when they sell it. Some code signatories pay a fair price to artists upfront; this price is proportional to what they know the retail price of the work will be.

Some unscrupulous code signatories pay artists a small amount for the work up front, often exploiting artists in a vulnerable position. They then charge inflated retail prices for the work. While not illegal, Indigenous Art Code does not consider this ethical practice as, in some instances, artists are not given honest information about the true market value of their work.

Use your instincts. Some things to look out for which may be indicators of unethical dealing can include:

• A lack of artist attribution. An artwork should always be accompanied by clear acknowledgement of the artist/s who created it, whether it is an original work of art or a reproduction. For example, merchandise such as bags, scarves, jewellery, homewares and artefacts that are manufactured overseas and not attributed to an artist are cause for concern.
• If the code signatory is trying to prove the provenance of artworks using photos of artists holding the work, rather than official certificates of authenticity.
• A code signatory’s willingness to ‘do a deal for you’. Ethical galleries usually use a sales model that returns a consistent percentage to the art centre and artist. Offering a significant discount to close the sale can be a red flag- who wears the price reduction, the code signatory or the artist?

If a code signatory is not open with you about how they source artwork or their relationship with the artist, and they are unwilling to answer your questions, it may be a signal to walk away.

See also:

How can I be sure I’m purchasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art ethically?

The primary sale is the first sale of artwork between the artist and another party. This could be directly to a consumer or to a gallery or to a code signatory who may pay the artist upfront for the work. When artwork is held on consignment by an art centre or gallery on behalf of the artist, the primary sale does not occur until the ownership of the work is transferred. This happens when the work is sold to the customer and the artist receives payment for the work.

An auction house is a company that facilitates the buying and selling of art either via in-person or online auctions. Rather than referring to the facility that an auction takes place in, an auction house most commonly refers to the company running the auction.

Auction houses sell artwork through a competitive auction process in which buyers place bids on the work.

Auction houses differ from galleries in that they typically do not present exhibitions or facilitate other opportunities (such as presentations at art fairs) that develop the careers of the artists whose artwork is sold. Where galleries typically work with a stable of artists, auction houses most often sell work from a range of artists depending on what artwork is made available to them.

Major state and national public art institutions (such as the National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of New South Wales) are primarily concerned with the exhibition, presentation and collection of art. They may have a retail shop that sells merchandise related to exhibitions and their collections, as well as other small one-off items such as jewellery. However, outside the limited retail setting, they do not sell artwork to consumers.

A number of public institutions are Code Signatories of the IartC. This membership relates to their retail outlets.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned art centres are Indigenous governed businesses, most often led by a board made up of Indigenous artists. Artwork is produced in studios operated by these art centres or artists working in their communities, in their homes and on Country and Homelands. Artwork is typically sold on consignment through a commercial gallery or directly to the consumer by the art centre. This could be via art fairs the art centres attends, or the art centres own online or physical gallery space.

Some commercial galleries and art code signatories also operate studios where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists may create artwork for sale by the gallery or, in some instances, the gallery may wholesale the work to other code signatories. The primary difference between the two is that the commercial gallery is almost always a privately (usually non-Indigenous) owned business, which the artist has no ownership or governance role in. Any profits made are returned to the private owners of the business. An art centre is a not-for-profit that returns benefits to its members (the Indigenous artists).

See also:

What is an art centre?

‘Certificate of authenticity’ is a term used widely in the Indigenous visual art sector. It describes the documentation provided, usually by code signatories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, including art centres, to a consumer which verifies, in writing, that the artwork for sale is the original work of the artist named. Most often, they are a single page document that is intended to ensure the integrity of statements made about the authenticity of artworks. Photographs of an artist creating or holding an artwork, without other information about the artist and the artwork is not a certificate of authenticity.

Clause 5.1 of the Code stipulates that Code Signatories of the Indigenous Art Code who receive Artwork directly from an Artist over the value of $250 must create a Code Certificate for that Artwork. A Code Certificate is a certificate of authenticity created by a Code Signatory of the Indigenous Art Code that includes the following:

• A statement that it is an ‘Indigenous Art Code Certificate’; 
• The name of the Artist or Artists who created the Artwork; 
• To the extent known, identification of where and when the Artwork was created; 
• A description of the size and medium of the Artwork and of the title (if any) attributed by the Artist to the Artwork; 
• Identification of the Code Signatory stating that they are a ‘Signatory to the Indigenous Art Code’; and 
• A signed declaration from the Code Signatory confirming the accuracy of the details set out in the Code Certificate. 

For more information refer to the information sheet on certificates of authenticity from the Arts Law Centre of Australia

In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, provenance is crucial to fair and ethical trade and refers to the history or chronology of ownership of an artwork. Proof of provenance includes documentation such as a certificate of authenticity as well as other documentation, such as receipts, that demonstrate the various owners of an artwork since it left the possession of the artist.

The origin and history of ownership of a piece of art is both its birth certificate and passport; providing confidence of its authenticity.

As stated in Chapter 8, 8.3 of the report of the 2007 Senate Inquiry into the Indigenous visual arts industry:

The provenance of artworks is generally determined through two complementary but separate mechanisms: a certificate of provenance and some kind of proof of sale. It is important to note that the two mechanisms are independent: legitimate proof of a sale does not guarantee the provenance of the piece, nor does a certificate of provenance guarantee that the piece has been sold through legitimate means for a reasonable price.

As indicated, provenance is not the same as an ethical supply chain. Knowing the various owners of a work is one thing but, even where this history is documented, it does not mean artists were not treated or paid unfairly. Fairness relates to the transparency of the initial transaction between the artist and code signatory and whether or not any power imbalances were exploited in those transactions.

See also:
What is a certificate of authenticity?

‘Fake art’ in relation to the Fake Art Harms Culture campaign are products that ‘look and feel’ like Indigenous art but have no connection to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture or communities.

These commercially produced goods, mostly aimed at the tourist market, are often made from nontraditional materials and feature inauthentic and culturally inappropriate and appropriative designs. They can range from bamboo didgeridoos to key rings to paintings.

Just because a product is manufactured overseas or industrially produced does not necessarily mean it is fake art. A bone China cup featuring Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander art that is manufactured overseas and is not licensed by an Aboriginal artist is not.

‘Fake art’ can also be forgeries of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. These could be copies of original works of art reproduced without the permission of the artist, or works of art produced by someone other than the artist named on the work. These ‘fakes’, however, are not nearly as present as those in the souvenir market.

In 2016 in response to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists asking ‘what are we going to do about fake art and souvenirs?’ the Indigenous Art Code, alongside Arts Law Centre of Australia and the Copyright Agency, launched the Fake Art Harms Culture campaign. This campaign lobbied the Australian Government to address the proliferation of fake Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and art products, including through the introduction of legislation to stop the production and sale of artworks and artefacts appropriating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and designs.

Key developments/achievements of the campaign to date:

2016

• Indigenous Art Code, Arts Law Centre of Australia and Copyright Agency launched Fake Art Harms Culture campaign at Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair.

2017

• Senator Bob Katter twice introduced the Private Members Bill into Parliament, which sought to amend the Australian Consumer Law by preventing non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons from benefitting from the sale of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and souvenirs.
• Almost 1000 post cards sent to then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
• Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Nigel Scullion, referred an inquiry to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs about the growing presence of inauthentic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ‘style’ art and craft products and merchandise for sale across Australia.
• The Indigenous Art Code made a submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs Inquiry along with 161 other organisations and individuals.

2017-2019

• The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs conducted the Inquiry. The report on the impact of inauthentic art and craft in the style of First Nations peoples was tabled in December 2018.
• The Fake Art Harms Culture campaign gains significant media coverage, including a 60 Minutes investigation.

2018

• The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) commenced legal proceedings against Birubi Art, a souvenir manufacturer, for misleading consumers into purchasing fake Aboriginal art products.

2019

• In June, the Federal Court found that Birubi Art had falsely claimed that products it sold were hand painted by Australian Aboriginal persons and made in Australia. The Federal Court ordered Birubi to pay a $2.3 million penalty.
• Senator Hanson-Young introduced the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Prevention of Exploitation of Indigenous Cultural Expressions) into Parliament (2019 Bill).
• Roughly 1000 postcards sent to Prime Minister Scott Morrison from the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, calling for changes to the law.
• Arts Law, Indigenous Art Code and the Copyright Agency, assisted by solicitor Ted Hill, appeared before the Senate Committee to present an alternate version of legislation, which would deal with secret and sacred objects, and include regulations for licensing authentic Indigenous art for products and merchandise.

2020

• Australian Government released their response to the Report on the impact of inauthentic art and craft in the style of First Nations peoples. This included an in-principle commitment to begin a consultation process to develop stand-alone legislation that would protect Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property, including traditional knowledge and cultural expressions.

2021

• Productivity Commission has commenced a study to examine the value, nature and structure of markets for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and crafts, and policies to address deficiencies in these markets.

Despite the significant achievements of the campaign in raising awareness of the issue, we are yet to see the introduction of legislation to remove inauthentic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and crafts from the Australian market. We are also yet to see better regulation of licensing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists or a commitment to the protection of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property more broadly.

The in-principle commitment made by the Australian Government in September 2020 to begin a consultation process to develop stand-alone legislation that would protect Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property, including traditional knowledge and cultural expressions, is encouraging. The Indigenous Art Code continues to advocate for change in this area.

Fake art in the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art are products that are for sale that ‘look and feel’ like Indigenous art but have no connection to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture or communities.

These commercially produced goods, mostly aimed at the tourist market, are often made from non-traditional materials and feature inauthentic and culturally inappropriate and appropriative designs. They range from bamboo didgeridoos to key rings to paintings.

Just because a product is produced overseas or industrially produced does not necessarily mean it is fake art. Some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists fairly license their original and authentic artworks to be reproduced on products manufactured overseas. Often an artist will enter into a fair and transparent commercial agreement with a business which will have products produced overseas. These arrangements involve agreements between the artist and the business producing the product, in which the artist is fairly remunerated.

A bone China cup featuring Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander art that is manufactured overseas and licensed fairly by the artist is ethical. A bone China cup featuring Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander art that is manufactured overseas and is not licensed by an Aboriginal artist is not.

A tell-tale sign of a fairly licensed product is one that attributes the artwork to the artist and provides details about them. Often the information that comes with the product will also provide details of the royalties the artist receives. We encourage consumers to ask questions around the specifics of these arrangements. Generally, ethical businesses will have no trouble providing further detail.

Be wary of products that do not provide details about the artist and that use generic or elusive terms such as ‘Aboriginal style’. Be wary also of products that do not name any artists but claim Aboriginal artists contributed to the product. If in doubt, ask. If the answer is unclear or does not provide clarity on who the artist is, how they contributed to the work and what remuneration they have received, we suggest you walk away from the purchase.

‘Fake art’ in relation to the Fake Art Harms Culture campaign are products that ‘look and feel’ like Indigenous art but have no connection to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture or communities. If these artworks or products are labelled as being Aboriginal or Indigenous art but are in fact created without the input of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, then this could be regarded as misleading or deceptive conduct.

‘Fake art’ is also present in the context of forged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. These forgeries could include copies of original works of art or art produced by someone other than the artist named. These ‘fakes’ are not, however, nearly as present as those in the souvenir market.

We recommend you report such instances of ‘fake art’ to the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) via this link. It is advisable to gather as much information as you can to lodge the report, including photos or screenshots of the products in question.

IartC realises that in some instances the current law may be inadequate in this area. IartC has lobbied since 2016 for a change in Australian Consumer Law, as well as the introduction of standalone Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property rights, to better combat the proliferation of fake art.

Read more about the Fake Art Harms Culture Campaign.

The law that currently exists protects consumers against misleading or deceptive conduct. This means it is against Australian Consumer Law to represent to a consumer that art or products are created by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person when they have no connection to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture or communities.

IartC understands there may be cases where the law is inadequate in this area. There are limited protections currently available under Australian law for Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP).

Australia does not have adequate laws to protect ICIP. At present Australian law does not protect:

• The underlying idea or information that is put into a work e.g. the story told in a painting;
• A style or method of art e.g. cross-hatching or dot painting techniques;
• Traditional languages;
• Performances such as dance and music which have not been recorded or written down;
• Products or processes based on traditional knowledge such as traditional medicines or methods (for example, traditional methods of weaving).

Indigenous Art Code is advocating for change in this area, including the introduction of standalone ICIP legislation.

As Dr Terri Janke states in Protocols for Using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts for the Australia Council of the Arts:

Indigenous people are the primary guardians of their cultures and should be given the opportunity to interpret and present their own cultures.

Indigenous Art Code also acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have customary law and cultural obligations relating to artistic expression that exist outside Western legal frameworks.

See also:

What is Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property?

No, this would require a change in the law specifically around Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP). This is a change that Indigenous Art Code has long advocated for, and it is what led to the Fake Art Harms Culture campaign.

As Dr Terri Janke states in Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts for the Australia Council of the Arts:

Indigenous people are the primary guardians of their cultures and should be given the opportunity to interpret and present their own cultures.

Australia (non-Indigenous) does not have adequate laws to protect ICIP. At present Australian law does not protect:

• The underlying idea or information that is put into a work e.g. the story told in a painting;
• A style or method of art e.g. cross-hatching or dot painting techniques;
• Traditional languages;
• Performances such as dance and music which have not been recorded or written down;
• Products or processes based on traditional knowledge such as traditional medicines or methods (for example, traditional methods of weaving).

In 2016, Indigenous Art Code, alongside the Arts Law Centre of Australia and the Copyright Agency, launched the Fake Art Harms Culture campaign. This campaign lobbied the Australian Government to address the proliferation of fake Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and art products, including through the introduction of legislation to stop the production and sale of artworks and artefacts appropriating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and designs.

Despite the significant achievements of the campaign in raising awareness of the issue we are yet to see the introduction of legislation that removes inauthentic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and crafts from the Australian market. We are also yet to see better regulation of licensing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists or a commitment to the protection of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property more broadly.

In September 2020 the Australian Government made an in-principle commitment to begin a consultation process to develop stand-alone legislation that would protect Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property, including traditional knowledge and cultural expressions.

Indigenous Art Code acknowledges the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and communities which have lobbied governments for decades to address this issue. The Fake Art Harms Culture campaign follows on from the work by these artists and communities. Indigenous Art Code also acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have customary law and cultural obligations relating to artistic expression that exist outside Western legal frameworks.

See also:

What is Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property?

What is the Fake Art Harms Culture campaign and what has been its key achievements?