Outreach to Erub Arts on Darnley Island

As part of our AITB outreach program, Donna Robinson of Arts Law travelled to Erub Arts on Darnley Island in the far north of the Torres Strait in early March 2022. We were accompanied by Berkeley Cox, partner, and Donella Mills, lawyer, from King & Wood Mallesons and art curator, Sarah Cox. It is a truly beautiful part of the world.

The artists practise ghost net weaving, lino cuts, painting and ceramics in their own unique style. They’re currently working on a large project creating ghost net sculptures of eagle rays.

The art centre buildings are a series of 3 hexagons with workshops underneath, all within the school grounds.

We gave a workshop on artists rights, covering copyright, moral rights, contracts, licensing, commissioning, ICIP and wills.  Everyone really enjoyed the videos that accompany parts of the workshop. While we were there we gave legal advice to individual artists and to the art centre manager and prepared wills. 

We were very fortunate that our visit coincided with International Women’s Day and we had the opportunity to attend a morning tea for the local women put on by the health clinic.  Some very heartfelt and moving speeches were given and it was a delight to sit across from the water and spend time with some of the artists and locals.