ART GALLERIES 

Indigenous Australian Art Commercial Code of Conduct

The Australian Embassy in Paris would like to draw attention to the Indigenous Australian Art Commercial Code of Conduct, recently endorsed by the Cultural Ministers Council in Australia. Members of the Indigenous Australian arts industry are expected to have signed-up to the Code by early 2010, after which the Embassy will give preference to working with Australian commercial entities that are signatories to the Code. Whilst only Australian individuals and companies can become signatories to the Code, the Embassy strongly encourages all those involved in the sale of Indigenous Australian art in France to respect the principles outlined therein.

The Code is the result of a 2007 inquiry into the Indigenous visual arts industry by the Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications, Information Technology and Arts. Undertaken in response to reports of unscrupulous conduct in the industry, in particular reports of unfair and unethical treatment of Indigenous artists, the Code aims to promote fair trade practice, through the establishment of strict provisions that commercial dealers and galleries will be asked to sign up to.

The Code Administration Committee, comprising industry representatives with secretariat support from DEWHA, will administer the Code and determine which Australian commercial entities are granted signatory status. The status of dealers/galleries can be confirmed with the Code Administration Committee Secretariat (Email: [email protected]).

For more information on Code please visit the Indigenous Australian Art Commercial Code of Conduct website.