Selling Yarns

Australian Indigenous textiles and good business in the 21st century

 

Papers

Raising the Profile of Indigenous artists

Session: Engaging communities 11:20 - 12:30 pm, Sunday, 13 August 2006

Lola Greeno

Program Officer, Aboriginal Arts, Arts Tasmania

Abstract

Full paper published on the Craft Australia Research Centre

Arts Tasmania continues to recognise the significance of Aboriginal arts in Tasmania. In recent years traditional Aboriginal women's crafts have made huge in roads toward raising the profile of Tasmanian Aboriginal artists. Since the Arts Tasmania, Aboriginal Arts program expanded in 2000 the interest in Aboriginal women's contemporary craft has exposed practitioners on a state, national and international level.

Tasmanian Aboriginal shell necklaces and traditional twined baskets continued to gain recognition across the globe. Genuine demand for new work places emphasis on new market value and historical context of these objects.

Pricing one's own artwork means knowing and understanding all the different layers that comes with years of experience. High value equates to quality standards, at the highest level. Many artists are unprepared in pricing their own work, few cost their work near top price. Others with years of experience are hesitant to price according to standards. Recent national exhibitions have shown a range of prices for twined pieces. Shell necklaces have created much interest. Artists making these want them, valued at the same highest level, trying to maintain a group price standard.

Indigenous artists not represented by an Art Centre are often disadvantaged. They often do not have the technical communication and photographic equipment to meet the demands of exhibition requests. The role of Program Officers and curators within state arts agencies are positioned to meet artists needs. They can help with contracts, insurance and other requirements.

Arts Tasmania continues to develop opportunities for artists to train in copyright issues, art for public building programs, commissions, preserving your arts integrity and protecting cultural property and developing an arts folio for museums, galleries and curators

See also: Lola Greeno's biography