Lead

Leaders of the APY Art Centre Collective have called on the federal government to launch a new inquiry into the Indigenous art sector, focusing on the conduct of private art dealers. The collective, representing artists from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in Far North South Australia, argues that the body responsible for setting ethical standards in the industry is not equipped to address longstanding issues.

Coverage comparison

The call for an inquiry was reported by ABC News, which detailed the collective's concerns about the Indigenous Art Code's governance and effectiveness. A second ABC article focused on the personal experience of artist Iluwanti Ken, a co-founder of the collective, who described the mistreatment she and her colleagues endured following the allegations that led to their expulsion from the code.

Key claims

  • The APY Art Centre Collective is calling for a federal inquiry into the Indigenous art sector to examine the conduct of private art dealers.
  • The collective was removed from the Indigenous Art Code in 2023 and has not been reinstated.
  • The Indigenous Art Code is a voluntary code of conduct promoting ethical conduct in the industry.
  • The collective's artists and CEO have expressed concerns about the governance and efficacy of the Indigenous Art Code.
  • The federal government is reportedly considering findings and recommendations of a review of the Indigenous Art Code.
  • Iluwanti Ken, a celebrated artist, says the collective has lost funding and been excluded from industry events, including the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Awards.
  • The collective's removal was not reversed despite being cleared of wrongdoing by multiple investigations.

Background

The APY Art Centre Collective, made up of artists and arts centres from the APY Lands, was at the centre of what became known as the 'white hands on black art' scandal in 2023. The Australian newspaper published a video that appeared to show a non-Indigenous woman painting on an Aboriginal artist's canvas at Tjala Art Centre.

The allegations triggered several investigations, including by a state government-appointed panel and the Indigenous corporation registrar, which ultimately made no adverse findings. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission also found the collective had not violated consumer law.

Despite these outcomes, the collective was removed from the Indigenous Art Code in 2023. The code, established in 2009 on the recommendation of a federal inquiry into the First Nations art sector, sets out guidelines for ethical and transparent conduct but is not legally enforceable. Being a signatory or member of the code is also a criterion for some federal funding grants.

Perspectives

Sandra Pumani, chair of the APY Art Centre Collective and a Yankunytjatjara artist, expressed surprise at the removal, saying, "We was expecting them to support us, but we were on our own."

Iluwanti Ken, a Pitjantjatjara Elder, traditional healer, and finalist in the 2025 Wynne Prize, wrote a letter to government and arts industry leaders in May, stating, "How can I be celebrated as one of Australia's most important artists, while also being treated as though I do not belong in my own industry?" She added, "The APY Art Centre Collective is not controversial. It is an extraordinary Aboriginal-led organisation built by Anangu people for Anangu people."

The collective's leaders have voiced concerns about the governance and efficacy of the Indigenous Art Code, suggesting it cannot adequately regulate private art dealers. They have urged the federal government to consider a new inquiry, while the government is reportedly reviewing the code's recommendations.