: The Australian Government welcomes the Productivity Commission’s draft report into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts and crafts.
The Government is committed to supporting an ethical marketplace that provides fair returns to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and businesses.
The draft report helps to identify the value of and threats to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts and crafts, and provides a comprehensive set of recommendations to address deficiencies in these markets.
This will support the Government to address the scourge of inauthentic art products and merchandise across Australia, which have no connection to First Nations communities and does not provide them with any economic benefits.
Art is fundamental to Indigenous cultures, and allows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to share stories, connect to Country, strengthen communities, and to access a range of employment and economic opportunities.
A consultation period is now open through to 29 August to enable the sector to provide feedback on the recommendations outlined in the draft report, before a final report is released in late 2022.
