AUSTRALIA. Perth Airport has signed up as a Supporter Member of the Indigenous Art Code, formed following a Senate inquiry into Australia’s Indigenous visual arts industry.
The Western Australia hub is calling for fair and ethical trade with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island artists and transparency in promoting and selling artwork, particularly projects targeting the tourist market.
Perth Airport Chief Commercial Officer Kate Holsgrove said: “We want transparency and integrity in the market and the Code can guide retailers to achieve this. We agree with the Indigenous Art Code’s concerns regarding selling artworks and artefacts that appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait culture and designs, fake art.
“These goods are usually targeted at the tourism market. Most visitors to Perth and Western Australia travel through this airport and we believe we can make a difference.”
Holsgrove said the airport will promote the Code to passengers wanting to purchase art while in Western Australia. “We will engage with our retail partners to encourage alignment to the Code in order to provide our customers the confidence on the products available for sale in the airport.
“Perth Airport is committed to reconciliation and recognising the strong cultural connection that the Whadjuk people and other members of the Noongar Nation have to the airport estate – and our association with the Code is just another initiative on our reconciliation journey,” she added.
Indigenous Art Code CEO Gabrielle Sullivan said the group welcomed Perth Airport as a Supporter Member.
“In doing so, they demonstrate their support of our work of 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,” she said.
“We hope Perth Airport’s commitment to promoting fair and ethical trade with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists influences their retail partners to make considered choices in the artwork and art products they stock.
“And that consumers are aware and ask: Who is the artist? Where is the artist from? How did you get the artwork or art product in your shop? How was the artist paid for their work? If it is a reproduction of an artist’s work, how are royalties or licensing fees paid to the artists?” Sullivan concluded.
As reported, Perth Airport has partnered with the Community Arts Network (CAN) in a powerful First Nations truth-telling exhibition.
The Terminal 4 exhibition marks NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islanders’ Day Observance Committee) Week, which ran from 3 to 10 July, and recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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