Funding secured for Artists in the Black and new project Licensing the Right Way

Donna Robinson at Mirndiyan Gununa art centre, Mornington Island as part of Artists in the Black's outreach program. Photo by Brienna Anderson.

Arts Law is pleased to announce that we have secured $550,000 over five years through the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support (IVAIS) program to support Artists in the Black and a new project Licensing the Right Way. This new project will improve licensing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and build best practice within the Indigenous visual arts industry across Australia.

We encourage all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to contact Arts Law for advice about your licensing arrangements. We can help you make sure that your agreements are fair and protect your rights and your interests. Arts Law aims to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to be able to advocate for themselves to avoid bad deals, unfair agreements and tricky situations that may arise from having unclear or informal arrangements.

Art centres and other arts organisations can also contact us for advice on how to implement best practice in your licensing agreements.

The Federal Government has allocated more than $49 million to Australia’s world-renowned Indigenous visual arts sector, providing new opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and supporting a professional and viable visual arts industry.

Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said annual IVAIS funding supports around 8,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and 500 Indigenous arts workers.

“This funding is part of the Government’s long-standing support for Australia’s world-class Indigenous visual arts sector. I’m pleased that the organisations supported through today’s announcement continue to facilitate and promote ethical conduct in the Indigenous visual arts sector,” Minister Fletcher said.

This latest round of funding will support 54 Indigenous visual art organisations, art centres, art fairs, regional hubs and service organisations including Arts Law.

“Indigenous-owned art centres are at the heart of Australia’s internationally renowned Indigenous visual arts movement and are an important contributor to local economies. The IVAIS funding will create new opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across the country and provide funding certainty to organisations that support their work”

For more information about the IVAIS program and the full list of 2020-21 funding recipients visit: www.arts.gov.au/IVAIS