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Protecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts and crafts

24 January 2025
Productivity Commission Response cover

The Australian Government supports in principle the majority of the recommendations in the Productivity Commission’s report into the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts and crafts market.

Image: Reef 2024, Florence Gutchen, Erub Island artist. ICIP: This artwork includes artistic works which incorporate Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) and traditional knowledge of Erub Island, used with permission.

The Australian Government has released its response to the Productivity Commission’s study report into the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts and crafts market.

The recommendations include strengthening protections through new legislation and policies as well as bolstering the Indigenous Art Code, improving funding arrangements, and increasing professional support and development opportunities for First Nations artists and communities.

The majority of recommendations have been supported in principle by government.

The government’s response highlights its support to the sector by tackling economic harm. A number of actions outlined in the National Cultural Policy, Revive, are already underway, including:

  • reviewing the Indigenous Art Code to strengthen the protections for First Nations artists and consumers across the country
  • continuing to invest in First Nations art centres and sector organisations through the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program
  • supporting professional development and training for First Nations peoples to ensure that artists are treated ethically and receive a fair return for their work
  • developing stand-alone legislation to protect First Nations traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, including to address the harm caused by fake art, merchandise and souvenirs.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts prepared the response in consultation with the National Indigenous Australians Agency, the Attorney-General’s Department, IP Australia, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and other agencies.

For more information about protecting Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights, visit Protecting Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights | Office for the Arts.

More information: Australian Government response to the Productivity Commission’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Visual Arts and Crafts Study Report | Office for the Arts