Purchasing

The art of Indigenous Australia has become an important element of the Australian arts environment. Visual art forms continue to play a leading role, providing a visible Indigenous presence in many and diverse contexts.
(Doreen Mellor, Valuing Art, Respecting Culture, page 6, NAVA 2001.)

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists operate across many sectors of the Australian visual arts industry. The artist may position him/herself exclusively as an Indigenous artist, or as an Australian artist who is Indigenous.

The cultural and geographic diversity of Indigenous artists means that work by these artists can be bought from many different types of sales outlets, and the products themselves may range through those that are classified as ‘fine art’, works of cultural significance and those purely made for the souvenir market.

Many Australian Indigenous artists will show their work through ‘mainstream’ commercial outlets. Others have grouped together to form collectives or companies and may have websites with online sales.

In regional and remote areas of Australia, some Indigenous communities own and manage art and craft centres. These centres facilitate the production and sale of the work of members of their communities and will work with other agencies to gain exhibiting opportunities for their members beyond the centre. They are also important to the community as a point through which a number of other services may be provided, such as health care, travel assistance etc. Sales of art and craft made through these centres directly benefit the community.

Collectors of Australian Indigenous art should be aware that there are products that use ‘Aboriginal style’ imagery but which are inauthentic products. This theft of cultural imagery and identity is considered unethical and does not support Australian Indigenous artists. For more information see the Codes of Practice and Protocols sections of this website. The best way to guard against purchasing an inauthentic work is to purchase through a reputable sales outlet. Some outlets will provide a certificate of authenticity or other provenancing mechanism that helps buyers to be sure that the work they are buying is by an Indigenous Australian.

In 2009 a code of practice for dealers in the Indigenous art industry will be launched. For more information on the development of this code go to the Australia Council website.