Artists Lured By Wheels

The Age

Friday December 15, 2006

KATHARINE MURPHY, CANBERRA

UNSCRUPULOUS art dealers are enticing elderly indigenous artists out of their communities to mass-produce artworks in exchange for "gifts" such as 4WD vehicles.

A Senate inquiry has heard disturbing claims that some private indigenous art dealers are exploiting both established and emerging Aboriginal artists, luring them to Alice Springs to paint, as well as evading tax and failing to collect GST.

Paul Sweeney, from Papunya Tula Artists in central Australia, told the inquiry that some private operators exhibit a "smash and grab mentality" with elderly indigenous artists, with art-for-vehicles being a common arrangement.

"Obviously there is great scope for exploitation and unfair trading with people having no real knowledge of what the vehicle is really worth," he said.

"Apart from people being treated unfairly, there is also the damaging effect it has on their career. Painting under duress and often supporting a large extended family, artists are encouraged to mass-produce poor quality work."

The Senate inquiry was established to probe widespread claims of fraud and exploitation in Australia's indigenous art industry, which has an estimated worth of between $100 million and $300 million.

The inquiry, which has attracted more than 60 submissions, is expected to make recommendations to the Government by March.

Australia's peak arts body, the Australia Council, is urging Canberra to better protect indigenous artists and the welfare of their communities by introducing schemes such as re-sale royalty arrangements. Paying royalties each time artworks are sold would protect artists from having their creations bought by dealers at low prices, and then on-sold for a substantial profit.