INDUSTRY ETHICS
Until recently, i.e. at the beginning of the 21st century, cowboys, hustlers, traders and the so-called carpet gallerists flew to the remotest parts of Australia and returned with a load of paintings full of dots, painted and obtained by dishonest and nefarious methods.
Native artists were paid in alcohol or food, or paid less than a hundred dollars for work that was later resold for thousands of dollars.
A Senate inquiry into this matter took place in 2007, and since then the Code of Native Art has been created, although its implementation and compliance by a given gallery is not mandatory. It includes clauses such as ensuring that the artist (who does not necessarily have to speak English) understands the terms of sale, that dealers respect indigenous cultural practices, and that artists do not receive payment for the painting in the form of drugs or alcohol.
Although dishonest traders still operate, for almost two decades, consumers and artists have had a set of rules to refer to when buying and selling Aboriginal works of art. Artists and private dealers can become signatories of the code. Anyone interested in ethically purchasing an Aboriginal painting should ensure that the gallery is a signatory to the code.
The production and sale of fake indigenous art is extremely harmful to the art industry and indigenous culture. The Australian Art Law Center estimates that 80% of Indigenous art available on the market is in fact fake art, made by non-Indigenous Australians or imported. Fake artwork devalues and disregards authentic Aboriginal work and, in many cases, denies economic opportunities to Indigenous communities.
The production of false Aboriginal images or imitations thereof is not only disrespectful due to the loss of economic opportunity and lack of required permits, but is also highly disrespectful on a deeper cultural level. There are many paintings that tell sacred stories, which means they should not be seen by everyone. They tell stories of the Dreamtime and sacred knowledge that is only intended for certain Aboriginal families and communities. Enabling artists to choose the works they would like to share is crucial to the ethical circulation of Aboriginal art. Violation of this rule has often resulted in the producer of a fake image having to pay huge compensation.
Today, the Indigenous Art Code and the Aboriginal Art Association of Australia promote the integrity, transparency and accountability of the Indigenous art market. Vendors who sign up to these codes commit to standards including fair dealing with Indigenous artists, respect for the cultural practices of Indigenous artists, rights and transparency in the promotion and sale of Aboriginal works of art.
Typically, the best place to ethically purchase a painting is through Aboriginal Art Centres, which are the primary intermediary between artists and the wider industry.
The centers are Aboriginal owned and controlled. They are professionally managed to ensure ethical support for the production, marketing and distribution of authentic Australian Indigenous art. When an artwork is sold from the Aboriginal Art Center, the majority of the funds go to the Artist, with a small portion invested back into operating costs and community programs.
Art centers depend on the income they earn because government funding only covers some of their operating costs.
Centers are an essential part of community life in remote Australia. In addition to providing much-needed income and employment opportunities, they support the maintenance of culture in communities by ensuring a focus on family bonds and social and cultural activities.