Read Indigenous Art Code's submission to the Australian Government inquiry

Indigenous Art Code

IartC has made a submission to the inquiry ‘Seeking views on new laws to tackle fake Indigenous-style art’.


Indigenous Art Code Ltd (IartC) has made a submission to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts – Seeking views on new laws to tackle fake Indigenous-style art

IartC’s submission is informed by our experience with the Fake Art Harms Culture campaign, our daily interactions with IartC members and the sector broadly, and our advocacy for fair dealings with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. We have tried to capture the concerns our members raise with us and acknowledge the time you take to share these with us.

IartC strongly encourages cultural policy development and supports the Australian Government’s promise to introduce standalone legislation to protect Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP).

IartC also respectfully acknowledges the work that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, communities, and individuals have done over many decades and continue to do in the ongoing pursuit of rights recognition.

We have approached this submission with the understanding that this stage of inquiry and consultation by the Office for the Arts (OFTA) is focussed on the fake art issue as per information on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts website. The Australian Government is seeking the views of communities and organisations across the country to inform the development of new laws to address the harm caused by fake art, merchandise, and souvenirs.

Our submission does not go into detail regarding ICIP more broadly, but notes that if limited to ICIP in visual art, this framework would miss a key opportunity to protect other forms of traditional knowledge, including but not limited to language, dance, stories, and song. ICIP cannot be easily divided into discrete categories and enforced only partially, as this would divorce artwork from its broader meaning and connection to other aspects of ICIP.


Read the submission here

 

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Acknowledgement of Country

Indigenous Art Code acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to the land, waters and skies, often expressed through art. We pay our respects to artists, Elders and community members past, present and future.

Acknowledgement of Country

Indigenous Art Code acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to the land, waters and skies, often expressed through art. We pay our respects to artists, Elders and community members past, present and future.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people viewing this site should be aware that it may contain images, voices, artworks and names of people who have passed away.