IartC acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians of Country throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to the land, waters and skies, often expressed through art.

Left: Jennifer Purvis Kngwarreye, Antwelarr, 2022. ©Jennifer Purvis Kngwarreye/Copyright Agency, 2023. Right: Judy Greeny Kngwarreye, Arlatyey, 2022. ©Judy Greeny Kngwarreye/ Copyright Agency, 2023. Photo: Utopia Art Centre.

Our Vision

The fair and ethical treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual artists and universal respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture.

Our Purpose

Ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists get a fair go and preserving fair, transparent and ethical trade between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual artists and art dealers.

About Indigenous Art Code

About Indigenous Art Code

2021 Martumili Soep Photographs By Squid Productions 11

Paintings being sorted in the Martumilli Artists gallery, Newman, Western Australia. © Martumilli Artists/Copyright Agency, 2022. Photo: Martumilli Artists.

The Indigenous Art Code Ltd administers a voluntary industry Code of Conduct known as ‘the Code’.

The Code is a set of rules and guidelines that dealers, which can be both Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses, commit to follow to ensure ethical practices and fair treatment of artists. 

2021 Martumili Soep Photographs By Squid Productions 11

Paintings being sorted in the Martumilli Artists gallery, Newman, Western Australia. © Martumilli Artists/Copyright Agency, 2022. Photo: Martumilli Artists.

The Code

The Code (The Indigenous Art Code of Conduct) provides a standard for ethical conduct of dealers of Indigenous visual arts.

It also defines clear standards for dealings between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual artists and art dealers to deliver:

  • Fair and ethical trade in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual artwork;
  • Transparency in the process of promoting and selling authentic artwork;
  • Efficiency and fairness in how disputes are dealt with.


The Company (IartC)

The Company, or IartC, (The Indigenous Art Code Ltd) is the organisation that administers the Code, through:

  • Administering voluntary membership of The Code and overseeing compliance; 
  • Furthering the Objects of the Company with the principle object being the promotion of Indigenous visual arts.

Governance

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

The current Board of Indigenous Art Code Limited

Stephanie Parkin 2023
Stephanie Parkin
Co-Founder & Principal Solicitor, Parallax Legal

Stephanie Parkin is the Chair of Indigenous Art Code Ltd. She belongs to the Quandamooka People of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) and is an Intellectual Property Lawyer dedicated to promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights and protocols within the arts and broader industries. Stephanie completed a Masters’ of Philosophy at the Queensland University of Technology in 2020, addressing the issue of fake Aboriginal art in the souvenir market. Stephanie has previously worked at Copyright Agency, and in 2022 Co-Founded Parallax Legal to focus on advocacy and assist in all legal matters pertaining to Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property.

Within her own Quandamooka community, Stephanie is a director of the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation.

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Saretta Fielding
Artist & CEO and Founder of Malang Indigenous Corporation

Saretta is an artist, designer and businesswoman of the Wonaruah Nation located in the Hunter Valley NSW.

Represented nationally and internationally, Saretta has enjoyed success in her art business, winning prestigious art awards including designer of the Ray-Ban Global Indigenous Wayfarers 2010 exhibition in San Francisco and Parliament Art Prize winner and exhibitor.

In 2014 Saretta launched Saretta Art & Design, today a multi-faceted business that delivers branding to Government and Corporates, architectural installation, interior design, alongside décor and fashion ranges that filter into impressive wholesale and retail business across Australia and internationally. In 2016, Saretta pioneered Malang Indigenous Corporation, a not-for-profit organisation bringing the skill and experience of the Saretta Art & Design team together to champion economic investment into her community.

Francoise Lane
Francoise Lane
Artist & Artistic Director of Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF)

Francoise Lane is a renowned artist, business woman, curator, and designer, and is currently the Artistic Director of Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF).

A Torres Strait Islander woman whose maternal family are from Kerriri (Hammond Island), Francoise identifies as both Meriam and Kaurareg. Inspired by her family, Kerriri and the natural reef and rainforest landscapes of her tropical North Queensland home, Francoise is a multi-disciplinary creative whose practise spans textile design, visual and surface pattern art, and sculpture. Francoise and her husband Andrew Lane established Indij Design in 2011- a 100% Indigenous owned, award-winning architectural and design company.

Lucy Deemal
Lucy Deemal
Chief Financial Officer, Cook Shire Council

Lucy Deemal is the Chief Financial Officer of Cook Shire Council in Queensland. She brings many years of financial management and experience as an auditor to the IartC Board, having worked in private accounting before moving into local government.

Richard England
Richard England
Chartered Accountant and Non Executive Director

Richard England FCA, MAICD is a chartered accountant and non-executive director. His current board appointments include Chair of Hobart International Airport, Co-Chair of Agency Projects Limited, Non-Executive Director of Gardior Pty Ltd trustee of The Infrastructure Trust, HBF Health Limited and National Pharmacies.

Richard is a former partner of Ernst and Young where he specialised in insolvency and debt reconstruction. He has expertise in corporate governance and broad experience in business across a number of sectors including agriculture, healthcare and infrastructure. He has a passionate interest in Indigenous affairs and is a keen collector of Australian Indigenous art.

Skip Lipman
Skip Lipman
Principal and Founder, Lipman Karas

Skip Lipman is a partner of LK Law Barristers & Solicitors. LK Law has litigation offices in Adelaide and London. Skip’s areas of expertise include professional negligence, trade practices, corporate governance, shareholder and takeover disputes, fraud and asset tracing, insolvency, obtaining equitable remedies and the conduct and management of major project litigation and inquiries.

Skip has previously been a Director of the International College of Hotel Management, MDASA and Medical Insurance Australia.

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Marie Jackson
Non-executive Director

Marie Jackson has rich experience in the communications, tourism, travel and events industries, and a life-long interest in art and design. She has served as a Trustee of the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Trust, executive director of Solterbeck Events, board member of M&C Saatchi Worldwide, regional partner of Publicis Mojo and director of Ogilvy & Mather. Marie is currently a non-executive director of Sovereign Hill Museums Association and a member of Chief Executive Women.

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Chad Creighton
CEO, Aboriginal Art Centre Hub of Western Australia (AACHWA)

Chad Creighton is the Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Art Centre Hub of Western Australia. Chad is a Bardi and Nyul Nyul man from the Kimberley region of WA. Born in Broome he lived in the township and surrounding communities for most of his life. He studied Fine Art at the University of Western Australia and Heritage Studies at Curtin University. Chad has a diversity of knowledge and experience working in the arts, heritage and native title. His work experience includes, curatorial experience with the Art Gallery of WA, development of the Desert River Sea project, coordinating heritage and environmental activities and managing native title services in the West Kimberley. He is currently a board member of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, WA Museum Aboriginal Advisory Committee member, Revealed Advisory Committee member and formerly committee member of the City of Perth Cultural Advisory Group.

Christina Davidson
Christina Davidson
CEO, Arnhem, Northern and Kimberley Artists Aboriginal Corporation (ANKA)

Christina Davidson is CEO of Arnhem, Northern and Kimberley Artists Aboriginal Corporation (ANKA). ANKA is the Indigenous governed peak advocacy and support organisation for over 5,000 Aboriginal artists and 49 Aboriginal-owned art centres and artist groups in Arnhem Land, the Kimberley, the Tiwi Islands and Darwin/Katherine. ANKA regions span over one million square kilometres of remote Northern Australia. Before joining ANKA, Christina lectured in contemporary art and art theory at The University of Sydney and The University of Melbourne. Christina is also a Board Member of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair.

Elected Dealer Directors

Vivien Anderson Gallery Artist Vivien Anderson Scaled
Vivien Anderson
Director, Vivien Anderson Gallery

Vivien Anderson has over 30 years experience in Australian Indigenous art. After returning from a career in London as a film producer, she became Manager of the Aboriginal Artists Gallery in Melbourne. Vivien went on to manage and direct several acclaimed contemporary galleries in both Melbourne and Sydney, all with a strong emphasis in Australian Indigenous visual artists. Vivien has directed her own specialist gallery in Melbourne since 2006; the current gallery is in St Kilda.

Marc Alperstein
Marc Alperstein
Director, Alperstein Designs

Marc Alperstein is an experienced Creative Director working in the wholesale gift industry. For over 15 years he has worked in collaboration with artists and art centres to create unique ranges of lifestyle gifts and homewares that are sold throughout Australia and around the world. Marc holds a Bachelor Fine Arts (Honours) in Painting from Monash University.

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Amy Mukherjee
Manager, Martumili Artists

Amy Mukherjee has been working for the Newman based art centre Martumili Artists since 2017 and is currently Manager. Martumili represents Martu artists working and living in 7 communities across the East Pilbara and is recognised as one of the largest and most reputable art centres in WA.

Arts worker, artist and writer Amy has been based in the Pilbara region of Western Australia since 2014. A Fine Arts graduate originally from the UK, Amy has a background in curation, project coordination and gallery management. With a particular interest in product development and creative collaboration, Amy is a staunch advocate for the agency and empowerment of Aboriginal artists.

Anna Kanaris
Anna Kanaris
Director, Artitja Fine Art Gallery

Anna Kanaris has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Communication Studies and a Graduate Diploma in Journalism from Murdoch University and moved from a career in research and journalism to pursue cultural and educational interests in the Aboriginal art world. She is based in South Fremantle, Western Australia and with her partner established Artitja Fine Art Gallery in 2004. Since that time, Anna has worked steadily building trust and collaborative connections with over 20 remote community art centres, curating and exhibiting five exhibitions a year.

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